On Friday, September 24, 2004, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano declared a state of emergency in La Paz, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma Counties after Mediterranean fruit flies were found in nearby Tijuana, Mexico. The flies are agricultural pests which can attack a variety of crops.


Mediterranean fruit flies, also called medflies, have never been found in Arizona.

Media looking for experts on this topic can contact:

David Kerns
Associate Integrated Pest Management Specialist
UA Yuma Agricultural Center
928-782-3836
dkerns@ag.arizona.edu

Bruce Tabashnik
UA Department of Entomology
520-621-1141
brucet@ag.arizona.edu

A U.S. Department of Agriculture fact sheet on the Mediterranean fruit fly can be found at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_phmedfly.html