Exotic fruit fly found in Florida
A peach fruit fly was found in a trap in a guava tree in Miami-Dade County, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said Monday.
It is the first Florida find for this species of fruit fly, considered one of the most serious of the world’s fruit fly pests due to its potential economic harm. It attacks many different fruits, vegetables and nuts, including mango, guava, citrus, eggplant, tomato, apple, peach, melon, loquat, almond and fig.
A U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector found the fly during routine surveillance activities earlier this month. Agricultural officials are attempting to determine the source of the fruit that carried this fly into Florida.
“This is a disturbing find because of the extreme risks associated with exotic fruit fly infestations,” Bronson said. “The state, along with our federal partner, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is pouring all available resources into this find in Miami-Dade County.”
It is the third exotic fruit fly find in Florida this year. In June, Mediterranean fruit flies were trapped in Palm Beach County, and a full-scale, three-month eradication program was conducted.
In August, two Oriental fruit flies were found in a trap in Pinellas County, where trapping continues and no additional flies have been found.
Exotic fruit fly found in Florida
