Country: United States

Title:

Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly): APHIS Removes Three Quarantine Areas in Texas

Contact:
Richard Johnson, Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, at (301) 851-2109 or richard.n.johnson@usda.gov and Avraham Eitam, Assistant National Policy Manager, at (614) 205-4565 or avraham.eitam@usda.gov

Report:

On July 16, 2024, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed the Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantine in Sullivan City, Hidalgo County, Texas. This action releases 68 square miles from quarantine. There was no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area. On July 20, APHIS and TDA removed the Mexfly quarantine in Brownsville, Cameron County. This action releases 99 square miles including 112 acres of commercial citrus from quarantine. On July 22, APHIS and TDA removed the Mexfly quarantine in La Rosita, Hidalgo County. This action releases 48 square miles from quarantine. There was no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area. The quarantine release dates were based on a degree-day model from the date of the last detections in these areas. 

APHIS and TDA established the Sullivan City quarantine on March 22, 2024, following the confirmed detection of three wild mated female Mexflies on March 12.

APHIS and TDA established the Brownville quarantine on March 21, 2024, following the confirmed detection of a wild mated female Mexfly on March 5, and expanded the quarantine on April 3, following the detection of two additional flies between March 21-22.

APHIS and TDA established the La Rosita quarantine on April 3, 2024, following the confirmed detection of a wild mated female Mexfly on March 22.

APHIS restricted the interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States. APHIS has worked cooperatively with TDA to eradicate these transient Mexfly populations through various control actions per program protocols.

The removal of these quarantine areas is reflected on the APHIS exotic fruit flies website, which contains a description of all current federal fruit fly quarantine areas. APHIS will publish a notice of this change in the Federal Register.

Under IPPC standards, Anastrepha ludens is a transient pest under eradication that is present only in some areas in Texas. This species is not widely distributed and is under official control in the United States.

Posted Date: Aug. 6, 2024, 2:21 p.m.