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 Establishes a Quarantine in La Feria, Cameron County, Texas.

Country: United States

Title: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly): APHIS Establishes a Quarantine in La Feria, Cameron County, Texas.

Contact:
Richard Johnson, National Fruit Fly Policy Manager, at 301-851-2109.

Report:

Effective April 22, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in La Feria, Cameron County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area.

On April 22, APHIS confirmed one mated female Mexfly in La Feria, Texas. APHIS, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), is responding to this confirmed detection with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 73 square miles of La Feria, Cameron County. There are 1681 acres of commercial citrus and one commercial packing shed within the quarantine area. APHIS is working with TDA to respond to this detection following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

The establishment of this quarantine area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current federal fruit fly quarantine areas:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantine

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

Posted Date: June 11, 2019, 9 a.m.