California’s agricultural sector is on high alert as officials have imposed a quarantine in a section of San Diego County following the recent detection of a harmful invasive pest. This development poses a significant threat to the state’s extensive fruit and vegetable production industry.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture announced the initiation of a 77-square-mile quarantine after the discovery of five Mexican fruit flies in the La Mesa area. The presence of these pests has raised concerns about potential damage to California’s multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry.

The quarantine area extends from the San Diego River down to Sweetwater Reservoir, and from Interstate 15 eastward to El Cajon, according to state officials. This measure is part of an aggressive strategy to prevent the pest from establishing a presence in the region, which could lead to widespread crop devastation in Southern California.

Officials have highlighted the threat posed by the Mexican fruit fly, noting, “This pest can infest and lay eggs in over 50 types of fruits and vegetables.” The potential impact on crops is significant, necessitating immediate and decisive action.

To eliminate the outbreak, authorities plan to deploy a large-scale aerial release of sterile male fruit flies. This technique aims to eradicate the pest population before it has a chance to expand.

To crush the outbreak, there will be a large-scale aerial release of sterile male fruit flies — a strategy designed to wipe out the population before it multiplies.

Under the plan, authorities will release about 250,000 sterile flies per square mile every week across up to 50 square miles surrounding the detection site.

The sterile males mate with wild females but produce no offspring, gradually collapsing the pest population.

Officials will also deploy organic pesticide treatments on properties within roughly 200 meters of where the flies were found, and fruit may be removed from nearby trees if larvae or additional mated females are detected.

The quarantine affects growers, plant nurseries, retailers and residents with backyard fruit trees, who are now barred from moving certain fruits or plants outside the quarantine zone.

The Mexican fruit fly can infest more than 50 types of fruits and vegetables, making it one of the most destructive invasive pests agriculture officials monitor.

Authorities say many infestations start when travelers bring fruits or vegetables into California from abroad, allowing pests to hitchhike into the state.