Oriental Fruit Flies in North Hollywood Raise Infestation Concerns, Eradication Plans

Two Oriental fruit flies were discovered in the North Hollywood/Burbank area, prompting the state Department of Food and Agriculture to announce plans today for an eradication program.

One fly was found Nov. 14 in North Hollywood and the other was found Monday in Burbank. The flies were found less than a mile apart, according to the CDFA.

In response, the state plans to begin an eradication effort covering a roughly 13-square-mile area surrounding the area. The program will involve the spraying of a "male attractant" mixed with a small dose of pesticide on trees and other surfaces, about eight to 10 feet off the ground.

Male flies are attracted to the substance and die after consuming it, according to the state.

"Our pest detection efforts are working well," said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. "Agricultural officials routinely set and check traps for invasive pests like the Oriental fruit fly so that we can detect an infestation before it has a chance to grow into a larger problem for our communities and our farms."

The North Hollywood/Burbank area brings to eight the number of infestation areas being addressed in California. Treatment efforts are continuing in the San Gabriel/Alhambra and Baldwin Park areas, along with three in Orange County -- Anaheim, Anaheim/Yorba Linda and Santa Ana/Westminster.

The Oriental fruit fly targets more than 230 types of fruit, vegetables and plants, according to the state. Female flies lay eggs inside the fruit that hatch into maggots.