{"id":31671,"date":"2026-09-22T14:20:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T21:20:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov\/?p=31671"},"modified":"2026-09-22T14:21:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T21:21:27","slug":"know-your-pests-oriental-fruit-fly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov\/index.php\/2026\/09\/22\/know-your-pests-oriental-fruit-fly\/","title":{"rendered":"Know Your Pests: Oriental Fruit Fly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Oriental Fruit Fly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of our \u201cKnow Your Pests\u201d series leading up to California\u2019s Invasive Species Council summit<\/a> on October 1-2 in Sacramento<\/a>, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is highlighting invasive pests and plant diseases that Californians should know what to look for, and what to do if they see or suspect one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing what to look for and reporting a suspected pest can help protect California agriculture, our communities, and our natural resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Know it<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis<\/em>) is an invasive insect that attacks hundreds of kinds of fruits and vegetables. Females lay eggs beneath the skin of host fruit, and the larvae, or maggots, feed inside the fruit as they develop rendering unfit for human consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oriental fruit fly can damage a wide range of crops and backyard fruits, including citrus, mangoes, avocados, peaches, pears, figs, tomatoes, and many others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spot it<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult oriental fruit flies are somewhat larger than a house fly, about 1\/3 of an inch long. Their body color can vary but is generally bright yellow with a distinctive dark, T-shaped marking on the abdomen. The wings are clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look for signs of damage to ripening or ripe fruit. Infested fruit may develop decay, become soft or rot from the inside as larvae feed on the fruit’s flesh. Fruit may also drop prematurely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The larvae are small, creamy-white, legless maggots that feed inside the fruit, making them impossible to see from the outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why it matters?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

California works to keep oriental fruit fly from becoming established because of the significant threat it poses to agriculture and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pest has been recorded attacking hundreds of kinds of fruits and vegetables. If established, oriental fruit fly could cause significant crop losses, increase pesticide use and pest management costs and affect the movement and export of California agricultural products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CDFA conducts detection and eradication activities when oriental fruit fly is found in California. Quarantines may also be established to help prevent the pest from spreading through the movement of infested fruit and vegetables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What should you do if you think you have found oriental fruit fly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n