Medflies found two places in citrus belt

First it was low world prices, then a labor dispute. Now there’s more bad news for Belize’s beleaguered citrus industry. The Agriculture Ministry has announced the detection of Mediterranean fruit flies at two locations in Southern Belize: Mile 2 1/2 on the Hummingbird Highway and Mango Creek near the Southern Highway. Government, with the cooperation of the Citrus Research and Education Institute, has already begun to strip and bury fruits from the affected areas as well as spray insecticide. The ministry says there is no need for alarm, as these efforts should work to contain any medfly infestation, but requests that the public refrain from bringing into Southern Belize any fruit from neighboring countries, particularly Guatemala and Honduras.