East County : Spraying to Begin in Fruit-Fly Fight

Spraying will begin Monday in a 12-square-mile sector of East San Diego, La Mesa and Lemon Grove after a second Oriental fruit fly was trapped in the area Wednesday.

County Department of Agriculture crews will spray the area around the College Grove Shopping Center and Chollas Heights with a mixture of molasses-based bait and insecticide in an attempt to eradicate the tiny insects, which cause heavy damage in fruit orchards. They spoil the ripening fruit by laying eggs under the fruit skin.

State agricultural authorities consider the trapping of two fruit flies within a square mile an indication of infestation. After the discovery of an adult male fruit fly in a trap in a La Mesa orange tree Aug. 7, county crews increased the number of traps in the area. The second fly, also an adult male, was found near the Chollas Heights Reservoir--within a mile of the first trapping.

County Agricultural Commissioner Kathleen Thuner said the insecticide-laced bait will be sprayed on fruit trees, foliage and utility poles at heights of 8 to 10 feet from the ground, where there is little danger to pets or children.

Spraying and trapping will continue for several months until no fruit flies are found in traps.

The Oriental fruit fly attacks 150 varieties of fruit trees and ornamentals and poses a threat to avocado, citrus and apple orchards. The insects are slightly larger than common house flies and have bright yellow and black markings on their abdomens.