Crop-threatening fruit fly caught in Pinellas trap

A species of fruit fly considered one of the most threatening to crops has been found in Pinellas County, prompting state agriculture officials to monitor a vast swath around the affected area.

The two male Oriental fruit flies were discovered in August inside a trap in a grapefruit tree in the Safety Harbor area. Officials said the find appears to be an isolated incident, not an infestation.

"We feel confident we can contain it," said Denise Feiber, spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. "We're feeling better about it the more time passes."

Scientists have intensified a trapping program for fruit flies, covering an area of 81 square miles around the tree where the pests were found. Officials are checking the traps every week, instead of the normal three-week gap between inspections, Feiber said.

No more flies have been found since the two males were caught in the trap, agriculture officials said.

There are more than 56,000 fruit fly traps throughout the state.

If more appear, the department plans on applying a mix of insecticide and a substance that attracts the flies on telephone poles to eradicate them, Feiber said.

The Oriental fruit fly is considered one of the world's most destructive pests. The species attacks more than 100 different fruits, vegetables and nuts, including citrus, tomatoes, mangoes, apples and peppers.

The flies lay eggs in the fruits or vegetables. The larvae hatch within a few weeks, rendering the crops inedible.

Feiber said the Oriental fruit flies may have been brought to Pinellas by a traveler who returned with fruit or vegetables from another country.

This is not the first time the pests have been caught in the region. In 2007, one was found in Hillsborough County. In 2008, two were found in Orange County. Hawaii is the only U.S. state where Oriental fruit flies are common.

Officials continue eradication efforts of Mediterranean fruit flies in Palm Beach County, where they have infested mango, loquat and sour orange trees. A quarantine is still in effect in that area and residents aren't allowed to remove homegrown fruits or vegetables from their property.

The outbreak near Boca Raton was the first for any fruit fly species in more than a decade.