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

Report:

Between May 15 and June 3, 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) amended three Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantines in Texas: the Brownsville Mexfly quarantine in Cameron County, the Edinburg-Palmview Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County, and the Donna Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County.

On May 15, APHIS and TDA expanded the Brownsville quarantine by 16 square miles, including eight acres of commercial citrus, following the detection confirmed on May 7 of one Mexfly larva in sour orange fruit on a residential property in Brownsville. The quarantine area is 126 square miles and includes 104 acres of commercial citrus.

On May 15, APHIS and TDA adjusted the Edinburg-Palmview quarantine. APHIS and TDA removed 18 square miles, including 236 acres of commercial citrus, from the northeast section of the Edinburg-Palmview quarantine. The removal was a result of three generations elapsing since the last Mexfly detection, based on a degree-day model.  APHIS and TDA expanded this quarantine following a detection, confirmed on May 9, of one Mexfly larva in grapefruit in a commercial grove in Mission. Additionally, APHIS and TDA amended the acreage of commercial citrus encompassed in this quarantine to remove acreage no longer in commercial production. 

On June 3, APHIS and TDA again expanded the Edinburg-Palmview quarantine following a detection, confirmed on May 20, of one Mexfly larva in grapefruit in a commercial grove in McAllen. The May 15 and June 3 expansions resulted in the addition of 64 square miles to the quarantine area, that includes 420 acres of commercial citrus. With these adjustments, the quarantine is now 300 square miles and includes 8,676 of commercial citrus.

On May 19, APHIS and TDA reduced the Donna quarantine by 20 square miles, including 50 acres of commercial citrus, after three generations elapsed since the date of the last Mexfly detection in that portion, based on a degree-day model. The amended quarantine area is 161 square miles and includes 1,800 acres of commercial citrus.

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 Mexfly quarantine areas and 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: June 27, 2025, 4 p.m.