Provided by Dr. Marion Fuller
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
Report Dated 08/15/98
Fly count: As of August 13th, the fly count was unchanged at 134, with the last detection on August 8/10. The regulated area is unchanged, encompassing 144 square miles.
Trapping: As of August 13th, there were 4516 traps deployed in a 207 square mile survey area: 3505 Jackson, 265 McPhail, and 726 yellow panel traps.
Treatment:EPA approved another four aerial bait treatments over the northern "core" area. Program directors and EPA officials will confer between the seventh and eighth treatment. The fifth aerial bait treatment took place Saturday, August 15th over the core. The southern block was not treated, and if no more flies are trapped in the area, no further treatments are expected to occur in this block.
Saturday's treatment began at first light. Weather conditions were favorable, with winds calm, and a 40% chance of rain predicted. DACS inspectors indicated treatments were without incident, and observed cut-offs appeared clean in the field. (Note: flight data from last weeks treatment, along with laboratory analysis of water and drift card samples, did not support the visual observation of a possible incursion over Red Beach Lake. It can be very difficult, even for experienced inspectors, to accurately assess cut off from the ground - it depends on where the observer is positioned relative to the helicopter...)
Environmental Monitoring: No report
Health Monitoring: No report
Quarantine Activities: Regulatory officials have conducted 1123 inspections and issued 191 compliance agreements. These activities are to ensure that fruit movement doesn't occur, or occurs only within strict guidelines as determined by USDA regulations.
Note: Some of you have asked about personnel working on the program: There are currently about 72 state and federal employees working on the project.
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