MEDFLY INFESTATIONS

A look at the current situation and some previous Medfly infestations in Los Angeles County.

JULY, 1989

ELYSIAN PARK AREA

Up to 34 Medflies found in July and August. Malathion sprayed Thursday night over a 14-square-mile area northwest of downtown Los Angeles, to be followed later this month by the release of 40 million sterile Medflies. A 70-square-mile area has been declared a quarantine zone; produce may not be transported outside to other parts of Los Angeles. Authorities hope the $1-million eradication effort will succeed by November.

LATE SEPTEMBER, 1988, TO JUNE, 1989

WEST LOS ANGELES

Forty-eight Medflies found in traps in Palms. A 35-square-mile region sprayed with 1,400 gallons of malathion in October. A week later, 8 million sterile Medflies released over 53 square miles of West Los Angeles; produce quarantined over a 76-square-mile area for nine months. A billion-plus sterile Medflies used in the $2-million eradication effort.

JULY THROUGH OCTOBER, 1988

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Six Medflies found in Northridge. A 16-square-mile area sprayed with malathion; 317 million sterile Medflies released in Northridge and Reseda. Quarantine over a 62-square-mile area. Eradication cost $1 million.

JULY, 1987, THROUGH FEBRUARY, 1988

EAST AND SOUTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

Three Medflies found in Maywood and Boyle Heights. A 22-square-mile stretch of Maywood, Bell and Huntington Park and a 14-square-mile area of East Los Angeles are each sprayed with malathion; more than 110 square miles of eastern Los Angeles County placed under quarantine for six months. More than 700 million sterile Medflies released in the $2-million eradication effort.

AUGUST THROUGH NOVEMBER, 1981

BALDWIN PARK

Five Medflies found, forcing spraying of malathion over nine square miles of Baldwin Park and parts of West Covina, Irwindale and Valinda. Quarantine imposed over a 101-square-mile area surrounding Baldwin Park. The Medfly is later rediscovered in West Covina and La Puente, forcing malathion spraying through March, 1982, over La Puente and through mid-April, 1982, over West Covina.

JUNE TO DECEMBER, 1980

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

After some Medflies are found, a 100-square-mile area of the Valley is placed under quarantine. Authorities release 266 million sterile Medflies before eradication is declared in late December.

1975

MARINA DEL REY

The first recorded finding of the Medfly in Los Angeles County. The eradication effort took nine months.