California officials have authorized fruit to be stripped from trees at over 2,000 residences in a portion of San Bernardino County to stop the spread of an invasive fly that could cause billions of dollars in damages.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced earlier this month that the trees in jeopardy contain fruit – mainly citrus and a number of other fruits – that host the Oriental fruit fly.

The trees are located in Redlands, north and south of I-10, with a northern boundary of E. Highland Avenue, a western boundary at the intersection of Garden and Elizabeth streets, an eastern boundary of Alta Vista Drive, and a southern boundary of Silver Leaf Court.

CDFA said the approach of removing the fruit from the trees will allow the agency and its partners at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local agricultural commissioners’ office to break the lifecycle of the invasive fly.

The Oriental fruit fly measures about a third of an inch in size and could be responsible for billions of dollars in damages in California if it is not eradicated. (California Department of Food and Agricutlure)

The agency also said if the infestation is not eliminated, it could cost between $44 and $176 million “in crop losses, additional pesticide use and quarantine requirements.”

The removal was expected to begin by the end of January and continue into late February.

The agency advised residents not to remove fruit on their own, and if fruit should fall from the trees, it should be double-bagged and placed in a trash bin, not a green waste bin or any other organic refuse designations.