Just a year after California was invaded by a massive influx of invasive fruit flies, the USDA said the pests have been eradicated.

In 2023, unusually high quantities of invasive fruit fly species, including Oriental, Tau, Queensland, Mexican, and Mediterranean fruit flies, were detected across the state. These pests, originating from various parts of the world, endangered over 400 species of fruits and vegetables.

The most common entry point for the pests was through contaminated produce brought back illegally to the U.S. by travelers or homegrown produce that germinated elsewhere and was sent to California.

The USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture collaborated on an extensive campaign involving quarantine zones, releasing millions of sterile flies, and other measures to stop the outbreak. By October, quarantines were lifted, marking a significant victory for California’s agricultural industry.

The USDA described last year’s outbreak as the worst infestation of invasive fruit flies that California had witnessed in at least a century.

Read more on California’s success in eradicating fruit flies here.