Quarantine Begins to Combat Fruit Fly

A quarantine has been placed on a 65-square-mile area of the San Gabriel Valley following the discovery of a dozen Oriental fruit flies in West Covina, county agricultural officials announced Wednesday.

The action will make it illegal to remove locally grown fruit and vegetables from the area, which includes the cities of Baldwin Park, Covina, Industry, La Habra Heights, La Puente, Pomona, San Dimas, Walnut and West Covina.

“We feel that we have found the epicenter of this infestation, and a quarantine is necessary to prevent the spread of this pest into other areas of the county,” said County Agricultural Commissioner Leo Spaugy.

Agricultural crews have been applying insecticide to fences, trees and utility poles in an attempt to kill the pest, which attacks more than 230 fruits and vegetables. The quarantine will last for at least 90 days after the last fly has been sighted, officials said.