Mexican Fruit Fly (MxFF) San Diego County El Cajon Two female Mexican fruit flies were trapped on July 27 and 28 near previous finds in El Cajon (PD18-98;PD25-98;PD29-98). The flies were found in McPhail traps that were placed in sapote and peach trees along Carob Tree Lane and Winrow Road, respectively. Federal trapper Connie Chavez is credited with finding the flies. Both Mexican fruit flies are within the El Cajon Mexican Fruit Fly treatment area. On July 24, CDFA began an eradication program. Ground treatment of all hosts within 200 meters of the finds was made with a malathion bait spray. Sterile release of Mexican fruit flies (SIT) in a ten-square-mile area around the finds is scheduled to begin on July 31, 1998. The McPhail trap density is 80 traps per square mile within the core square mile and 40 traps per square mile in the surrounding eight-square-mile area. Since both new finds are within the core square mile, no additional traps will be placed at this time. CDFA Insect Biosystematist Kevin Hoffman determined that one of the Mexican fruit flies was mated and the other was unmated.
Prepared by: John Pozzi |