Politics & Government

Emergency Proclamation: Asian Fly Infestation Found in Santa Clara County

The guava fruit fly is native to India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Eradication from Santa Clara County is scheduled for July 17.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has issued an emergency proclamation after an infestation of guava fruit flies was discovered in San Jose.

Three of the flies were trapped and identified in the Mayfair neighborhood, just north of the intersection of Highways 101 and 680, the Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture announced Monday.

Declaring an emergency gives the department the authorization to immediately start eradicating the flies.  

Find out what's happening in Campbellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to an agricultural department official statement, the flies are found in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, and can ruin massive amounts of crops, including citrus and tomatoes.

Find out what's happening in Campbellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Infestations of guava fruit fly likely result from the introduction of contraband fruit," the department said in a press release.

In an effort to keep the flies from spreading toward the county's agricultural hotbeds, eradication will begin Wednesday, July 17 in a 13-square-mile area bound by Berryessa Road on the north, White Road on the east, Tully Road on the south, and 14th Street on the west.

The department will use spot applications of insecticide and pheromone lure, a gelatinous mixture that will be laid down on utility poles and trees, and will attract male fruit flies.

"The treatments are applied at heights that are typically inaccessible and cause minimal disruption to the public," the department said.

The flies were also recently discovered in Los Angeles County. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here