APHIS Removes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in the Granjeno, Mission, and Harlingen areas of Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, Texas

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2017-26

August 28, 2017

 

 

Subject:           APHIS Removes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in the Granjeno, Mission, and Harlingen areas of Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, Texas

 

To:                  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

 

Effective August 14, 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 Granjeno and Mission, Hidalgo County and Harlingen, Cameron County in Texas.

 

On February 9, 2016, APHIS and TDA established a Mexfly quarantine in the Granjeno area of Hidalgo 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. In subsequent weeks, APHIS and TDA expanded the quarantine to additional locations in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties. 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 this 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:

 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fruit_flies/quarantine.shtml

 

For additional information on the Mexfly quarantine area, please contact National Fruit Fly Policy Manager John Stewart at 919-855-7426.

 

 

 

Osama El-Lissy 

Deputy Administrator 

Plant Protection and Quarantine