AP25PPQFO000C518

1. Award purpose: To prevent the establishment of Mediterranean fruit fly (MEDFLY), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), the CDFA has initiated an eradication project in response to the detection of MEDFLIES in the city of San Jose in Santa Clara County between August 11, 2025, and September 09, 2025.

Originally the quarantine was 71 square miles, but it has since expanded to an area of 213 square miles.

In response to these detections, the CDFA implemented a delimitation trapping program.

Additionally, the CDFA and the USDA implemented larval survey, foliar bait treatments with Spinosad GF-120, sterile insect technique, fruit removal, and quarantine enforcement.

Funding this program increases the likelihood that the MEDFLY will be eradicated from California.

2. Activities to be performed: Delimitation trapping will occur over 140 square miles.

Foliar bait treatments (ground) will take place over 200 meters around all adult detection sites for one life cycle beyond the last fly detected.

Sterile insect technique (SIT) will be utilized to deploy 250,000 sterile male MEDFLIES each week; released via aircraft in an 100.06 square mile area (3.5-mile radius around each detection site, except mountainous areas with no host material).

Release will continue for two life cycles beyond the last fly detected.

Larval survey will be conducted over 200 meters around all detection sites and high-risk gaps in between.

If larvae, a mated female, or multiple adult flies are found at a property, host fruit will be removed within 100 meters around all infested properties.

Quarantine work will be done to regulate the movement of host material, including issuing compliance agreements and hold notices.

Intensive post-treatment trapping will occur for three life cycles after the last fly is detected.

The trapping and survey crew will be trained in trap placement, preliminary identification, environmental compliance, laws and regulations, and proper sample submission procedures.

Samples will be sent to the Plant Pest Diagnostics Center (PPDC) for identification.

The quarantine and regulated area activities will be performed by the USDA, CDFA, and County Agricultural Commissioner’s (CAC) staff.

3. Deliverables and expected outcomes: The successful implementation of the detection, treatment, and quarantine activities will eradicate the MEDFLY from California.

Intensive post-treatment trapping will be maintained throughout the project areas for three life cycles after the last fly is detected.

This high level of trapping will determine the effectiveness of the program.

A tabulation of the number of sites sampled and the number of positive samples submitted can be used to determine if the survey efforts were sufficient.

If no additional MEDFLIES are detected, the project will be terminated, and the quarantine lifted.

4. Intended beneficiary(ies): The establishment of the MEDFLY would have a dramatic impact on the environment and economic wellness of California and the nation.

MEDFLY in California would require extensive use of pesticides both in urban and commercial settings.

The resulting quarantines against exported California grown commodities would have an immediate impact on California's ability to compete in the international export trade arena.

These infestations pose a serious threat to the United States' agricultural industry, particularly to California's $59.4 billion agricultural industry.

5. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: Santa Clara County Agricultural Department, the California Conservation Corps (CCC), Cooperative Agricultural Support Services (CASS), University of California Davis Medical Supervision (UCD), Office of Environmental Health Hazard (OEHHA), Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), California Highway Patrol (CHP), hazardous waste and landfill services, legal advertisements for treatments, outreach services, and the pesticide treatment contractor will all receive contracts.

California Department Of Food & Agriculture

TO PREVENT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY (MEDFLY), CERATITIS CAPITATA (WIEDEMANN), THE CDFA HAS INITIATED AN ERADICATION PROJECT IN RESPONSE TO THE DETECTION OF MEDFLIES THE CITY OF SAN JOSE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY BETWEEN AUGUST 11, 2025, AND SEPTEMBER 09, 2025. ORIGINALLY THE QUARANTINE WAS 71 SQUARE MILES, BUT IT HAS SINCE EXPANDED TO AN AREA OF 213 SQUARE MILES. IN RESPONSE TO THESE DETECTIONS, THE CDFA IMPLEMENTED A DELIMITATION TRAPPING PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, THE CDFA AND THE USDA IMPLEMENTED LARVAL SURVEY, FOLIAR BAIT TREATMENTS WITH SPINOSAD GF-120, STERILE INSECT TECHNIQUE, FRUIT REMOVAL AND QUARANTINE ENFORCEMENT. FUNDING THIS PROGRAM INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE MEDFLY WILL BE ERADICATED FROM CALIFORNIA.

10.025 - Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) [USDA]

California United States

State-Wide

USDA-APHIS-10025-PPQFO000-25-0541