Apple moth-caused quarantine impacts Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Poway

Most of Rancho Bernardo and parts of 4S Ranch and Poway are under a quarantine due to the presence of the light brown apple moth.

Part of Rancho Penasquitos and all of Del Sur and Santaluz are also affected.

This means more than 250 agricultural crops, including citrus, grapes and fruit trees, plus 2,000 landscape plants like roses, jasmines and mums could be under attack by the invasive pest, according to state agricultural officials.

For a map of the quarantine boundaries, go to tinyurl.com/AppleMothMap. Visitors can zoom in to see individual streets.

It roughly includes most of Rancho Bernardo except the northernmost section of Westwood and neighborhoods north of Paseo del Verano Norte and Escala. The southern border is Camino del Norte and western is around Camino San Bernardo. The eastern border is Pomerado Road until the zone enters Poway just north of Pomerado Hospital, extending into Green Valley along Martincoit Road and up north to Valle Verde and Old Winery roads.

The western side of 4S Ranch, west of Dove Canyon Road and including parts of 4S Ranch Parkway and Camino del Sur are included. It includes all of Del Sur and Santaluz plus the west side of Rancho Penasquitos, bordered by Black Mountain and Carmel Valley roads.

Residents in the quarantine area are not allowed to move their homegrown fruits and vegetables or plants from their yard. Green waste, except for grass, needs to be bagged and placed in a closed bin for pickup in order to deter movement of the moth into non-infected areas.

This means the recently enacted quarantine hampers the Backyard Produce Project’s acceptance of homegrown fruits and vegetables that are donated to help local families in need, said Jane Radatz, who leads the project.

Volunteers will no longer be able to pick fruits from trees in the zone and locals in the zone can no longer bring their excess produce to a collection site.

“Because of the quarantine, it will be even more important for those outside the zone to invite us to pick their trees and bring their produce to our remaining collection sites,” Radatz said. For donation questions or to request a volunteer tree picking team, contact Jane Radatz at 858-485-5449 or jradatz@att.net.

Until the quarantine is lifted — no end date is in sight — the produce collection site that operates every Thursday morning at Seven Oaks Community Center will be closed since it is within the boundaries, she said.

Collection sites and hours outside the quarantine zone are every Thursday morning on the porch of 16670 Santanella Street in 4S Ranch and RB HalleyFine Homes lobby, 12396 World Trade Drive Suite 306 in Carmel Mountain Ranch. Also every Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 3 and 6 p.m. at the Community Food Connection, Building C, 14047 Twin Peaks Road in Poway; and every Monday in the Rancho Family YMCA lobby, 9410 Fairgrove Lane in Rancho Penasquitos.

Per the county’s website, adult light brown apple moths are described as small tan moths, about 1/3 to 1/2 inch in length. Females are larger than males and usually have less distinct markings, but often have a distinct spot in the middle when their wings are closed. Males typically have a forewing with a light brown area at the base, distinguishable from a much darker red-brown area at the tip.

Its caterpillars are yellowish green and often found within in a silk chamber under a rolled leaf edge. For photos of the moth, eggs and signs of damage to fruit, go to sandiegocounty.gov/awm/LBAM.html. The website also has information on how to control infestations.

According to the website, “This pest has the potential to severely damage residential landscapes, orchards and agricultural crops. LBAM caterpillars feed on leaves and new growth, and can damage fruit. The spread of this pest throughout the county would be extremely costly to San Diego’s agricultural industry, requiring special handling and increased pesticide applications.”

In addition to the two quarantine zones already mentioned, the county’s other light brown apple moth infestations are in the Oceanside/Vista and Pacific Beach/Sea World areas.