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 Removes Quarantine in the Brownsville Area of Cameron County, Texas

Country: United States

Title: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly) - APHIS Removes Quarantine in the Brownsville Area of Cameron County, Texas

Contact:
John Stewart, National Fruit Fly Policy Manager, at 919-855-7426

Report:

Effective September 5, 2017, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed the Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine area in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. 

On June 9, 2017, APHIS and TDA established a Mexfly quarantine in the Brownsville area of Cameron County, Texas, restricting the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area to prevent the spread of Mexfly to noninfested areas of the United States. Since that time, APHIS has worked cooperatively with TDA and the Texas citrus industry to eradicate the transient Mexfly population through various control actions per program protocols. APHIS removed the quarantine after three Mexfly life-cycles elapsed with negative detections in the area. This removal of the quarantine area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of the current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/fruit-flies/ct_fruit_flies_home

Under IPPC Standards, Anastrepha ludens is considered to be a pest that is transient, actionable, and under eradication in the United States.

Posted Date: Sept. 20, 2017, 9 a.m.