California spray acreage doubled as flies spread

The area for aerial spraying of Malathion has been doubled after three fertile female Mediterranean fruit flies were discovered in an area 20 miles south of the original infestation, officials said.

The new area -- 7 miles wide by 28 miles long -- encompasses 92,000 residences in Coyote, San Martin, and Morgan Hill. Larvae were also discovered in a peach tree one-quarter mile from the boundary of the original Malathion spraying area on the San Francisco Peninsula.

Meanwhile, the Bahamas banned unrestricted importing of all produce from California as well as Florida, where fruit flies ha ve also been found.