"Part of Los Angeles County is under an agricultural quarantine after officials detected an invasive type of fruit fly in Stevenson Ranch, near the city of Santa Clarita.

The 79-square-mile quarantine — which restricts the movement of fruits and vegetables, not people — was prompted by the discovery of more than 20 Tau fruit flies and is the first caused by the species in the Western Hemisphere, said California’s Department of Food and Agriculture.

Female Tau fruit flies lay eggs onto host fruits that include okra, melons, peppers, papaya, citrus, cucumbers, pumpkins, avocados, tomatoes and gourds, causing the produce to rot."

Andrew Jeong reports for the Washington Post August 1, 2023. [2]