Fruit fly discovery puts part of Alameda County into quarantine

The quarantine, the first in Alameda County since 1981, aims to protect California's food supply from the Mediterranean fruit fly, a significant agricultural threat.

Residents in the quarantine area are advised to consume or process their produce on-site to prevent the spread of the Medfly and protect local gardens.

To combat the Medfly infestation, officials plan to release 250,000 sterile male fruit flies per square mile each week to control the population.

The Mediterranean fruit fly targets over 250 fruits and vegetables, laying eggs that hatch into maggots, rendering the produce unfit for consumption.

Read at www.mercurynews.com