APHIS Removes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in the Zapata Area of Zapata County, Texas

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FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2017-36

October 27, 2017

 

 

 Subject:          APHIS Removes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in the Zapata

Area of Zapata County, Texas

 

To:                   State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective September 20, 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 Zapata, Zapata County, Texas. 

 

On April 8, 2016, APHIS and TDA established a Mexfly quarantine in a residential area of Zapata, 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 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:

 

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