Oriental Fruit Flies Found In St. Pete Causes Quarantine: State

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A quarantine has been established Friday in the St. Petersburg area prohibiting the movement of fruit, vegetables, and nuts without a compliance agreement from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

Oriental fruit flies have been identified in Pinellas County, an FDAC news release said.

"This species is considered one of the most serious of the world’s fruit fly pests due to its potential economic harm," staff said. "It attacks more than 436 different fruits, vegetables and nuts, including fig, loquat, mango, orange, peach, plum, sapote, soursop, Surinam cherry, tangerine, tropical almond, and guava. The fruit flies lay their eggs in host fruits and vegetables. In a few days, the eggs hatch and larvae render the fruits or vegetables inedible."

The FDAC said the fruit fly has been trapped several times in Florida since 1964.

During recent routine trapping in St. Pete, the flies were found. Statewide, staff said more than 56,000 fruit fly traps are set up.

Officials have begun applying treatments made of insecticide mixtures in the area where the flies were detected. To find out if you live or work in this affected area, click on this map provided by the FDAC.

Officials recommend residents should not remove fruit from the trees.

“This detection highlights the importance of our world-class exotic pest surveillance system,” said FDACS Division of Plant Industry Director Dr. Trevor Smith. “Our staff, working closely with our federal partners, has begun a treatment program to eradicate this destructive pest.”