Why Is CA Dumping Millions Of Fruit Flies Over Milpitas?

MILPITAS, CA — Yes, you read that headline correctly. The government will be dropping millions of Mediterranean fruit flies over Milpitas and other parts of the Bay Area this week.

That's because areas of Alameda County, including the cities of Fremont and Newark, as well as Santa Clara County, including the city of Milpitas, have had a problem with these invasive flies, which represent a major threat to California's agriculture, accoriding to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Given that these tiny flies are capable of infesting more than 250 cultivated and wild fruits, they've been dubbed the "most important agricultural pest in the world."

As first reported by SFGATE, a specialized government aircraft will begin ejecting tons of these insects over Alameda and Santa Clara counties soon, according to CDFA.

So why bring in more of these flies?

As CDFA continues to fight a war against these pests, part of the eradication campaign has involved what is called the sterile insect technique. Here's how it works: Male fruit flies are sterilized in a special facility before they are released from an aircraft. They then find wild female flies, which results in non-viable offspring.

Residents of these areas have been previously told to report large sightings of these flies, but are advised to keep in mind they will likely see more soon because of this technique.

While it might sound odd, the technique is known as one of the most sustainable methods of eradicating Mediterranean fruit flies and one that abstains from using chemicals.

Last year, the department announced that fruit fly quarantines had been lifted across Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, San Diego, Riverside and Ventura Counties, freeing local commercial agriculture from restrictions.

But a map published by CDFA indicates that parts of Alameda and Santa Clara counties have been under this quarantine for the Mediterranean fruit fly since December.

This means moving produce in and out of the areas designated by the map is prohibited, according to CDFA. Find more information here.