ORANGE COUNTY, CA. – A fruit fly quarantine has been declared in parts of Orange County, including Garden Grove and Santa Ana, the California Department of Food and Agriculture announced Thursday.

The quarantine covers 87 square miles bordered to the north by Anaheim; to the south by John Wayne Airport; to the west by Huntington Beach; and east by State Highway 55.

This follows the detection of eight oriental fruit flies in the two cities.

>> Tap or click here for a map of the quarantine zone <

To prevent the spread of oriental fruit flies through home-grown fruits and vegetables, residents living in the quarantine area are asked not to move these items from their property. However, they may be consumed or processed (i.e. juiced, frozen, cooked or ground in the trash) on the property where they were collected or disposed of by double bagging and placing them in the regular trash, and not as green waste.

The oriental fruit fly is known to target more than 230 different fruits, vegetables and plants, putting important California crops like stone fruits, citrus, dates, avocados and many vegetables at risk after fruit flies female fruits laid there.

The oriental fruit fly is widespread across much of the South Asian continent and neighboring islands, including Sri Lanka and Taiwan, and has invaded other areas, including Africa and Hawaii.

Residents with questions about the project can call the CDFA Pest Hotline at 1-800-491-1899. Additional information can be found here: www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/fruitfly.