Science: Invading Medfly

Southern Florida was in something like a state of emergency last week, with officials in a tizzy, scientists swarming into the area, and federal money arriving in million-dollar lots. Cause of the uproar: the Mediterranean fruit fly, which seems to have hopped the Caribbean by airplane from Central America.

The "Medfly" is no laughing matter. Its last visit in 1929 cost millions. It was eradicated in 18 months, but only after 75% of Florida's citrus crop had been destroyed. This year's crop is practically all harvested, but if the fly hangs around until next year, it will get a crack at a...

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