The anticipated quarantine over the discovery of the Light Brown Apple Moth, an invasive pest, was announced. The area only covers the immediate 10-square mile area around eastern Balboa Park, where the most recent discoveries have been made. This is a much smaller area than had been feared by local growers.

The Federal government has yet to announce their quarantine plans, which are likely to impose restrictions on the entire county. They have already quarantined over 5,000 square miles in 19 counties in an effort to stop the spread of the destructive moth. The pest will attack over 1000 types of plants and trees, including over 250 types of fruits and vegetables. It first reached California in 2007, likely imported from its native Australia.

San Diego County farmers and growers had been preparing for a potentially devastating quarantine, due to the Light Brown Apple Moth. At this point, the plans have been largely scaled back, and the actual quarantine is only affecting one grower. The potential for a much larger area to be affected is on the horizon, however.

A federal quarantine will likely still cover the entire county, and will greatly restrict shipments of agricultural products ranging from fruits, potted plants, and some vegetables.  The moth was discovered locally in the Balboa Park and Bonsall areas.  It has already caused many problems in Northern and Central California.

Over the next six weeks, thousands of insect traps will be placed across the county to help determine if the insect is spreading.  The standard response for the Department of Agriculture is to then quarantine the entire county, something that local growers are dreading.  In the meantime, their products can still be exported.

An exotic/invasive stinkbug originally from southern Europe, Africa, and India was found in the Los Angeles region in June of 2008. The Bagrada Stinkbug has since spread to the Imperial Valley and into Arizona, and officials now fear it is so widespread it may be permanently established. It is a threat to crops such as lettuce, melons, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, broccoli, and other vegetables. When it attacks crops, up to 35% are unmarketable.

It is believed that the reduction in inspections done by the Department of Agriculture due to budget cuts may be at least partly responsible.  This stinkbug has also been found to attack potatoes, cotton, and some beans and peas.  Research has been done this year to find effective controls, with little luck so far.  Biological controls have not worked, and plant-based insecticides also do not work.  Some synthetic insecticides are working, so there is hope.