REDLANDS – (INT) – A quarantine stemming from an unprecedented invasion of Oriental fruit flies has been lifted.

Agricultural officials announced Thursday (August 15th) the invasive species has been eradicated.

Redlands became the epicenter of the quarantine last winter when crews began a door-to-door campaign stripping citrus trees of ripened fruit.

The lifting of this quarantine signals the successful completion of a nearly year-long collaborative effort to eradicate four fruit fly species from seven quarantine areas across seven California counties — San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Clara, Sacramento and Contra Costa.

“This was an unprecedented situation for California to experience this many active invasive fruit fly quarantines at one time,” said Victoria Hornbaker, director of CDFA’s Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services Division. However, she advised that the threat of new fruit fly investations is likely to remain in California.

Story Date: September 5, 2024