Malathion Spraying Planned for Oceanside
Agriculture officials will spray pesticide on trees and bushes in a 120-acre area in Oceanside because of a feared infestation of Mediterranean fruit flies.
Malathion bait, made of about 20% malathion pesticide mixed with a sticky insect food, will be sprayed by ground crews within a 220-yard radius of each of two traps where Medflies were found, county Agricultural Commissioner Kathleen Thuner said.
The last time the pesticide was applied in San Diego County was in 1989, when it was sprayed from the sky over El Cajon, Thuner said.
The pesticide poses no danger to people or their pets, she said, but fruit that is sprayed with the chemical should not be eaten for three days and should be washed before eating.
An immature female Medfly was found in a trap Nov. 27 and a mature female was found nearby Nov. 16, signaling that there may be a small infestation, officials said.
The Medfly is one of the most destructive of pests, threatening millions of dollars of crops as well as back-yard gardens in California, Thuner said.
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