Pest Fruit Flies Found in Northern California Neighborhood

[Shahriar Mohammad Kamal]

A state lab has found a fruit fly infestation in a Northern California neighborhood. Santa Clara County officials say six fruit flies were trapped in Cupertino, a Silicon Valley city south of San Francisco. County officials say an eradication program was scheduled to begin last week, and will last eight weeks. The Oriental Fruit Fly is a pest found throughout much of southern Asia. The fly feeds on more than 230 kinds of fruits and vegetables including citrus and stone fruits. Fly eggs lead to maggots that feed on the pulp, wasting the fruit or vegetable. This is the third time in eight years that there has been an Oriental Fruit Fly infestation in Cupertino. The fly typically makes its way into the country from contraband fruit. [Coll.]