August 1st 2023.
Residents of Los Angeles County got some unexpected news last week when the California Department of Agriculture declared a quarantine in 79 square miles of southern California. This was due to the discovery of the Tau fly, a species native to southeast Asia and the first of its kind to be found in the Western Hemisphere.
The tiny pests, measuring only 7mm in length, can be identified by their yellow bodies with black stripes and spots. They can lay up to 400 eggs in their lifetime and these eggs can hatch just two days after being laid.
The Department of Agriculture is taking the infestation seriously. They have warned that the Tau fly is a 'serious pest for agriculture and natural resources'. It deposits its eggs inside fruit, including important southern California crops like avocado, citrus, tomatoes, and peppers. The fruit can become unfit for consumption due to the larvae tunneling through it, leaving the interior rotten.
In order to contain the Tau fly, the Department of Agriculture is forbidding residents in the affected area from removing any fruits or vegetables from their homes. If they need to dispose of any produce, it must be double-wrapped in plastic bags and placed in a special bin.
It is unclear how the flies got to California, though officials believe they could have been brought in on uninspected produce. The Agency is staying up to date with the latest news on the quarantine and encourages you to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for our daily push alerts.
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