Mexican Fruit Fly (MxFF) San Diego County El Cajon Two female Mexican fruit flies were found on July 22nd and 23rd in the same McPhail trap along Bermuda Lane. The trap was placed in a plum tree. San Diego County Department of Agriculture trappers Joy Murray-Roseberry and Mazen Stevens were credited with finding the flies. Since July 20, 1998, six Mexican fruit flies have been trapped at this site. In response, the McPhail trap density has been increased to 80 McPhail traps per square mile in the core and 40 McPhail traps per square mile in the surrounding eight-square-mile area. In addition to increased trapping, CDFA will begin a Mexican Fruit Fly SIT eradication program in a ten-square-mile area around the finds. Ground malathion/bait spray treatment has begun within 200 meters of the finds. Releases of sterile Mexican fruit flies are scheduled to begin the first week of August. CDFA Insect Biosystematist Kevin Hoffman determined that one of the female Mexican fruit flies was mated and the other was unmated.
Prepared by: John Pozzi |
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