Provided by Dr. Marion Fuller
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)

Report dated April 30, 1998

Additional Mediterranean fruit flies (Medflies), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), flies were detected today, outside the original two sites. The original sites were an abandoned 20 acre grove (lone female) and a 60-acre commercial grove. I don't have a fly count, but detection sites include sites within Umatilla, (Lake County) Florida, proper. This changes the scope of the operation significantly, and again - a number of activities are underway:

• Due to the number and distribution of flies detected to date, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking permission from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin aerial application of malthion bait, beginning Sunday, May 3, 1998. City and County officials have been contacted, and a public meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 2nd at 2:00 pm, in the Umatilla High School. FDACS, USDA, the Department of Health (DoH), and, hopefully, Departmental of Environmental Protection (DEP) personnel will be available to answer questions and explain the program.

• At this point, we are anticipating four aerial chemical applications, followed by sterile insect release.

• The anticipated treatment area for malathion bait covers about 10 square miles (Apologies for yesterday's info, which was obviously, incorrect). Maps will be made available as we know you are anxious to know what the treatment boundaries are. In addition to the treatment area, intensified trapping is occuring over an area of about 81 square miles.

• Helicopters will be used for the aerial appliciation of malathion bait. DoH and DEP are assisting us with identification of sensitive locations, and every effort will be made to tailor the applications accordingly. Sensitive areas may include certain water bodies, schools, hospitals, etc. Night application is generally preferred to reduce potential human exposure; however, there are few pilots licensed to fly at night and apply pesticides. We understand there may be such a firm in Umatilla, and that is being pursued. There are environmental tradeoffs, in that it is also more difficult to identify buffer areas around lakes, etc., and some precision with the application is lost. At this point, I believe the Sunday application is scheduled for a day flight, but we'll let you know if that changes.

• We have been working closely with the Department of Health. The Lake County Health Department will be taking health related calls - that number is (352) 742-6310. Please refer all health questions to that number. They will be prepared to answer questions, or direct the caller to an appropriate source. A Question and Answer document should be available tomorrow afternoon from the Department of Health.

• The Department of Health is also in the process of establishing a health advisory panel - this will include various medical experts, local physicians, and representatives from the Department of Health, etc. We'll provide more details when that is available.

• We are also working with DEP. Both FDACS and DEP have been collecting surface water samples to establish baseline levels prior to aerial application. Both are also working to ensure proper handling of pesticide mixing/handling/disposal practices.

• Ground application to the groves where the first flies were detected will begin as soon EPA gives concurrance.

• Logistically, we are still trying to locate a site for a command center. This is no small operation - it is likely to involve many people (50-100), and lots of equipment.

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