Invasive fruit flies have been found near Los Angeles, prompting a produce quarantine

LOS ANGELES — The discovery of nearly 30 invasive fruit flies has prompted a produce quarantine affecting over 79 square miles (204.6 square kilometers) of Los Angeles County as state and local officials try to stop the fly from spreading and hurting California’s fruit and vegetable industry.

It’s the first quarantine ever in the Western Hemisphere for the Tau fruit fly, which is native to Asia, agriculture officials said.

The fly was discovered on June 6 in the unincorporated area of Stevenson Ranch, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of downtown Los Angeles, and was likely brought by a traveler bringing uninspected produce into California, officials said.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture announced the quarantine last week.

“We’re a big conduit in terms of shipping and trade,” said Ken Pellman, spokesperson for Los Angeles County’s Agricultural Commission. “We want to keep an eye out and prevent stuff from coming here in the first place, and if it comes here, to eradicate it quickly before it spreads.”

Avocados, tomatoes and watermelons are just a few of the roughly 100 fruits that can play host to the fly, making it easier to gain a foothold.

If it spreads, the fly could destroy crops and prompt farmers to spray more pesticides to maintain their yields.

While much is unknown about the fly, Jason Leathers, Environmental Program Manager at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, predicts its increasing infestations around the world will lead to further study over the next 10 years.

He added that the Tau fly’s ability to evade human detection and reproduce quicker than other fruit flies pose the most significant risks.

For now, the infestation has been contained.