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): APHIS Expands a Quarantine Area in Texas
Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly): APHIS Expands a Quarantine Area in Texas
Country: United States
Title:
Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly): APHIS Expands a Quarantine Area in Texas
Contact:
Catherine Marzolf National Policy Manager 386-666-9932 or catherine.a.marzolf@usda.gov
Report:
On December 30, 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) expanded the Peñitas Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens: Mexfly) quarantine in Hidalgo County, Texas.
APHIS and TDA expanded the Peñitas quarantine following the December 22 confirmed detection of one Mexfly larva in a tangerine collected on a residential property in Peñitas. This action expanded the quarantine by 2.96 square miles and includes 100.41 acres of additional commercial citrus. The amended quarantine encompasses 56.14 square miles with 323.68 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 this transient fruit fly population following program guidelines for survey, treatment, and regulatory actions.
The APHIS Exotic Fruit Flies website contains descriptions and maps 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 two areas in Texas. This species is not widely distributed and is under official control in the United States.
Posted Date: Jan. 23, 2026, 2:23 p.m.