Peach fruit fly discovered in east Fresno; bug is a pest to many crops

A single male peach fruit fly has been caught in an insect trap in east Fresno, the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner’s office said Friday.

The trap was placed in a peach tree as part of the county’s routine pest detection program. The fly, native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, attacks a variety of fruits and is considered a serious threat to agriculture.

The fly’s larva feeds on the insides of fruits and vegetables, including peaches, citrus, tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplant.

Agriculture officials have begun placing additional traps within an 81-square-mile area of the find.

Over the next few days, nearly 500 traps will be placed, followed by daily checks of those traps over the next two weeks.

County agriculture officials are asking for the public’s cooperation in allowing the traps to be placed in host trees on their property.

In 2006, Fresno County successfully eradicated a peach fruit fly infestation.

This story was originally published September 25, 2015 at 5:50 PM with the headline "Peach fruit fly discovered in east Fresno; bug is a pest to many crops."