Country: United States

Title:

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

Contact:
Catherine Marzolf, National Policy Manager, 386-666-9932 or catherine.a.marzolf@usda.gov and Avraham Eitam, Assistant National Policy Manager, 614-205-4565, avraham.eitam@usda.gov

Report:

On December 6, 2024, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) reduced the Brownsville Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantine area in Cameron County, Texas and the Harlingen-Sebastian Mexfly quarantine area in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties. On December 20, APHIS and TDA expanded the Brownsville Mexfly quarantine area in Cameron County.

The reduction of the Brownsville quarantine area includes the release of an eight square mile portion in Cameron County after three generations elapsed since the date of the last wild Mexfly detection in that portion, based on a degree-day model. This reduction resulted in an amended quarantine area of 64 square miles that includes 27 acres of commercial citrus. APHIS and TDA then expanded the Brownsville quarantine area by 19 square miles to 84 square miles in response to a confirmed detection on December 12 of a wild mated female Mexfly in a trap on a residential property. The expansion increased the area of commercial citrus to 29 acres.

APHIS and TDA established the Brownsville quarantine area on August 2 in response to the confirmed detection on July 26 of Mexfly larvae in citrus fruit on two residential properties.

The reduction of the Harlingen-Sebastian quarantine area includes the release of a 57 square mile portion in Hildago and Willacy Counties after three generations elapsed since the date of the last wild Mexfly detection in that portion, based on a degree-day model. The amended quarantine area is 264 square miles and includes 1,327 acres of commercial citrus.

APHIS and TDA established the Sebastian quarantine on March 21, following the detection of a wild mated female Mexfly, and the Harlingen quarantine on March 26, following the detections of six wild mated female Mexflies. APHIS and TDA consolidated these two quarantines on September 27, and amended these quarantines on April 3, May 20, June 27, August 2, August 29, September 27, October 11, and November 1; these were either expansions following the detections of additional Mexflies and Mexfly larvae or removals after three generations elapsed since the dates of the last detections in some portions.

APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States, as well as to prevent the entry of these fruit flies into foreign trade. APHIS is working with TDA to eradicate transient Mexfly populations following program guidelines for survey, treatment, and regulatory actions.

The APHIS exotic fruit flies website contains descriptions and maps of the amended quarantine areas, as well as all current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas. APHIS will publish a notice of these changes 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: Jan. 24, 2025, 8:41 a.m.