The Rise and Fall of the Medfly, 1958

Color - Sound - 16 mm - 00:15:15 A dramatic presentation of a successful all-out campaign to eradicate the Mediterranean fruitfly, the world's worst pest of citrus. The medfly found in Florida in 1956 was eradicated in 19 months by a bait spray, applied by aircraft and ground equipment. More than 7 million acres were treated in 28 counties in Florida at a cost to the Federal and State governments of about $10 million. Florida industry estimated it would have cost $20 million a year to live with the pest. AWARDS: Edinburgh International Film Festival, 1959; Padua International Exhibition of Scientific-Didactic Film, 1959.