Skip to Content

Agricultural Commisioner/Weights & Measures Dept. ~ County of Los Angeles

Snr. Ortiz is fishing for Mediterranean fruit fly, the far-traveling native of Sub-Saharan Africa also known as the Med fly or Moscamed. These colorful and destructive flies lay their eggs inside thin skinned, juicy ripe fruit. As Inspector Aid to the Pest Detection Division, Snr. Ortiz is placing sticky fly traps baited with pesticide and insect attractant. The traps are periodically retrieved and sent to a labratory in order to target potential outbreaks. In 1989 L.A. County initiated a controversial and short lived campaign to spray Malathion from low flying helicopters over threatened agricultural areas.

To stop the bugs, the food and agriculture department has ordered a series of further aerial sprayings of Malathion over a 270-sq.-mi. area of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Beginning this week, 28 communities with a total population of 1 million will be sprayed by low-flying helicopters. (Times Magazine, 1990.)

Below is a loaded score card ready for testing at the lab.

Snr. Ortiz is one of mother nature's sons, having grown up in the enchanted region of Solola, Guatemala, and later studying agriculture in the capital.

Cotton wick contains 5 ml of 1% Naled (an organophosphorous insecticide), and methyl-eugenol (an insect attractant).

Then Am I

A Happy Fly

If I Live

Or If I Die

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Announcing the L.A. TACO Media Lab: For the Future of Local Journalism In Los Angeles

To start, we’re teaming up with the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism to help provide education and training expertise to a new generation of journalists. The school has developed a new course, “Bridging the Gap Between L.A. Influencers and Independent Journalists,” which will provide time and space for USC students to contribute to the L.A. TACO Media Lab. 

From Highland Park to High-End Steakhouse: How a Linebacker From Franklin High Became the Master of Mastro’s

L.A.-born Walter Mayen worked his way up in the kitchen, from shucking oysters to running one of the most legendary steakhouses in the country. And even has the scar to prove it.

April 24, 2025

The Eight Best Latino-Owned Coffee Pop-Ups Serving Labubu, Gansito, and Duvalín Lattes From Their Front Yards

Beyond the specifics behind the perfect pour, a high-quality bean, and a great aroma, coffee is about community, the people who serve it, and the people we share it with.

April 24, 2025

Wes Avila’s Game-Changing Sweet Potato Taco Is Back In Flauta Form (And Better Than Ever)

Thirteen years after Wes Avila first turned the classic taco de papa on its head by using in-season, local sweet potatoes, he continues to evolve his iconic, accidentally vegetarian taco. Avila’s sweet potato taco has been copied by many in L.A. and beyond. It’s also one of the best-sellers at his taquería in Kyoto, PioPiko, proving that this taco is also effectively also huge in Japan.

April 23, 2025

Meet the ‘Final Four’ Taquerías In the Semi-Finals! Just Ten Days Left For Our Live Event

Did your favorite spot make it to the Sabr-Ocho? The competition is getting fierce.

April 23, 2025
See all posts