Medfly Found in Rosemead Residential Neighborhood

A Mediterranean fruit fly has been found in a residential area of Rosemead that had previously been sprayed with malathion, officials announced Saturday.

The mated female fly was discovered Thursday in a trap in a plum tree at a Temple City Boulevard residence and identified late Friday, according to Medfly Project spokeswoman Marlene Stinson.

Stinson said additional traps have been placed in the area, and workers are cutting fruit from other trees to look for fly larvae.

Medfly Project and state Department of Food and Agriculture officials are not expected to discuss any further action--including the possibility of additional spraying of the pesticide--until Monday, Stinson said.

State officials had postponed scheduled spraying in the Echo Park area until state laboratories completed tests on malathion samples after city officials--led by Councilman Joel Wachs--contended that the pesticide mix exceeds state standards for exposure to lead, nickel and chromium. The city is seeking an independent health risk assessment before any further spraying.

But state officials Friday announced that application of the pesticide will resume on Thursday over 14 square blocks encompassing downtown Los Angeles and several surrounding neighborhoods, including Echo Park, Silver Lake and Elysian Park.

State Food and Agriculture Director Henry J. Voss said the tests indicated that the spraying program poses no public health.

City officials are expected to go to Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday to seek a temporary restraining order to halt the spraying.