What Could That Damage Mean to the Economy?
The extent of the damage to California’s economy that could be caused by white striped fruit fly is not yet known – mainly because the fly’s preferred hosts are not commonly grown in California, or are grown in small numbers. However, the white striped fruit fly is known to adapt and favor other plant hosts and is considered an economic pest of considerable importance in other countries. Because of the possibility of rapid population growth and availability of many potential hosts, similar impacts would likely be felt in California.
