APHIS Establishes Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine Area in Granjeno Area Texas
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sent this bulletin at 04/22/2016 11:22 AM EDT
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FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2016-161
April 20, 2016
Subject: APHIS Establishes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine Area in the Granjeno Area of Hidalgo County, Texas
To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials
Effective February 9, 2016, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or mexfly) quarantine area in the Granjeno area of Hidalgo County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area.
On February 9, one mated female mexfly was confirmed in the Granjero area of Hidalgo County, Texas, which triggered an APHIS and Texas Department of Agriculture quarantine area. Additionally, up to March 25, 19 adult mexflies were confirmed in the cities of Mission, McAllen, expanding the quarantine in Hidalgo County to approximately 234 square miles. In cooperation with Texas Department of Agriculture, APHIS is responding to these confirmed detections 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 regulated areas:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantine
For additional information on the mexfly quarantine area, you may call National Fruit Fly Policy Manager John Stewart at 919-855-7426.
Osama El-Lissy
Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine