Fruit fly outbreak triggers South Florida quarantine

An outbreak of an aggressive Asian fruit fly -- believed to be the largest so far in the state -- has triggered a quarantine of about 85 square miles of fertile farmlands in South Miami-Dade.

The Oriental fruit fly, blamed for heavy damage to mangoes in the Philippines and citrus in Japan, was first detected late last month when a single male turned up in a trap in a tropical almond tree east of the Redland on Southwest 72nd Court. Within two weeks, another fly popped up more than 13 miles away, followed by an

even more alarming catch: 45 in a single trap.

Considered one of the world's most aggressive fruit flies, Oriental fruit flies were first spotted in the Redland last month. More 85 square miles are now under quarantine. The pest attacks more than 430 different fruits, vegetables and nuts, including avocados, mangoes and tomatoes. Considered one of the world's most aggressive fruit flies, Oriental fruit flies were first spotted in the Redland last month. More than 85 square miles are now under quarantine.

The pest attacks more than 430 different fruits, vegetables and nuts, including avocados, mangoes and tomatoes. University of Florida

While the fly has been detected -- and contained -- about 10 times since it first appeared in Florida in 1964, numbers never amounted to more than a dozen or so at a time.

As of Tuesday, 116 flies had been caught in an area that houses some of the region's largest packing houses, threatening a farming industry that sells more than $700 million in crops annually.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs is working "around the clock" to contain the flies, said spokeswoman Jennifer Meale.

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Fruit fly outbreak triggers South Florida quarantine ."