Provided by Dr. Marion Fuller
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
Report Dated 05/27/98
The total fly count is up to 491 flies, with one fly picked up outside the treatment area yesterday, about one mile south of the southern boundary. The past two days have been relatively "quiet" in terms of number of flies trapped - I think we have reason to be guardedly optimistic that counts have stabilized, and may be starting to decrease as a result of the ground applications. The flies being trapped outside the treatment area are somewhat problematic - but thus far, these remain single detections. We are two weeks into the program from the first detection of May 12th, again, still a little early to assume that the infested area has been completely defined.
Ground crews continue to apply the second round of ground bait applications. Fruit stripping continues as well.
The Science Advisory Panel (Medfly Experts) will be meeting by conference call tomorrow to discuss the current situation/recommendations in light of the changes that have occurred since they last met.
Traps in service are up to 3,354: 2448 Jacksons, 166 McPhails, and 740 panel traps.
The regulated (quarantine) area remains stable at 102 square miles.
Environmental Monitoring: No report
Health Monitoring: no report
No more flies have been detected, the count is stable at 1314 flies. Ground bait applications continue in the buffered areas around sensitive sites.
3964 traps have been deployed: 3150 Jacksons, 558 panels, 206 McPhails, and 50 IPTs. EPA is being contacted concerning additional aerial applications.
Environmental Monitoring: No report
Health Monitoring: No report
Sterile Medfly Release Program
We received our first shipment of pupae since the closing of the Guatemala
Airport last week. It takes about 5 days before they are ready for
release. The first 20 million of these flies are designated for the
ongoing program in Miami Springs (if all goes well, July 11 will be the
final release date there - based on a 24 day life cycle, and no further
delays or problems with obtaining/releasing the steriles.)
The remainder of the flies will be available for release in Manatee County.
I'll provide you with additional details as they become available.
FDACS - Division of Plant Industy:
Mediterranean fruit fly information
USDA APHIS: Mediterranean fruit fly information
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet ENY-809:
The Mediterranean Fruit Fly
UF/IFAS Fact Sheet ENY-626:
Mediterranean Fruit Fly: What Floridians Need To Know