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

 

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2018-04

February 5, 2018

 

 

SUBJECT:       APHIS Removes the Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine Area in Laredo, Webb County, Texas

 

TO:                  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective January 7, 2018, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine area in the area of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

On June 7, 2016, APHIS and TDA established a Mexfly quarantine in a residential area of Laredo, Texas, restricting the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area to prevent the spread of Mexican fruit fly to non-infested 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 area 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