Countywide
Pesticide spraying for the Oriental fruit fly began at noon Monday over a 12-square-mile area that included portions of Lemon Grove, La Mesa and northeast San Diego, San Diego County agricultural officials said.
The spraying was proposed after a second sexually mature male fruit fly was found Wednesday in an orange tree in La Mesa, county Agricultural Commissioner Kathleen Thuner said. The insect was three-quarters of a mile from the spot where the first fly was found Aug. 7.
The substance being sprayed contains a licorice-smelling liquid that is a sexual lure to male flies, plus a pesticide that is lethal to the insects, Thuner said. The spraying is expected to take place every two weeks for the next three months.
The Oriental fruit fly can be a menace to tomatoes, avocados and citrus crops, Thuner said.
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