Official Pest Report
Official Pest Reports are provided by National Plant Protection Organizations within the NAPPO region. These Pest Reports are intended to comply with the International Plant Protection Convention's Standard on Pest Reporting, endorsed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in March 2002.
Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly ; Mexfly): APHIS Removes Quarantine Area in Texas
Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly ; Mexfly): APHIS Removes Quarantine Area in Texas
Country: United States
Title:
Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly ; Mexfly): APHIS Removes Quarantine Area in Texas
Contact:
Catherine Marzolf, National Policy Manager, 386-666-9932 or catherine.a.marzolf@usda.gov
Report:
On November 20, 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed the Harlingen Mexfly quarantine in Cameron County, Texas. This action released 71.89 square miles from quarantine, including 789.1 acres of commercial citrus. Release from quarantine occurred after three generations elapsed since the date of the last detection, based on a degree-day model.
APHIS restricted the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States. APHIS worked cooperatively with TDA to eradicate this transient Mexfly population through various control actions per program protocols.
The removal of this quarantine area 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 pest that is absent and eradicated from the United States.
Posted Date: Dec. 4, 2025, 10:03 a.m.