Mexican Fruit Flies Could Get San Diego County Area Sprayed

Three Mexican fruit flies have been trapped in El Cajon, prompting state officials to consider the first-ever aerial spraying of malathion in San Diego County, state and county officials confirmed Wednesday.

The science advisory panel of the state Department of Food and Agriculture was briefed by telephone Wednesday about the recent finds--one mature male and two mature egg-bearing female Mexican fruit flies that have been trapped since April 25 in a residential area near Interstate 8.

The advisory panel, which helps guide statewide response to the fruit fly problem, is expected to make its recommendation to the state agricultural directortoday, according to Gary Reece, a San Diego County agricultural official.

“Ground treatment or aerial treatment of malathion I’m sure is being discussed,” Reece said. “There’s strong reason to believe that an infestation has started. I know (state officials) are going to be interested in doing whatever they feel is needed to keep it from getting out of hand.”

Mexican fruit flies are considered “the next major pest” after the Mediterranean fruit fly, according to Dr. Isi Siddiqui, assistant director of the state Department of Food and Agriculture. Slightly larger than house flies, the yellowish-brown “Mexfly” is particularly dangerous to citrus, avocados, peaches, pears and other subtropical fruit.

Already, the state has begun a voluntary malathion-spraying program on El Cajon properties located within 200 yards of where the flies were found. On Tuesday and Wednesday, 19 property owners agreed to the spraying, according to Marty Muschinske, a state economic entomologist based in San Diego.

“At this point it is voluntary, but once a statement of decision is made, it will probablybecome mandatory,” Muschinske said.