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

 

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2018-29

September 5, 2018

 

Subject:           APHIS Removes the Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine Area in Brownsville,

                        Cameron County, Texas

 

To:                   State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective August 25, 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 Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas.

 

On April 14, 2018, APHIS and TDA established a Mexfly quarantine in a regulated area of Brownsville, Texas, restricting interstate movement of regulated articles from this area to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States.  This action was necessary after one Mexfly larva was confirmed on April 14, 2018.  Since that time, APHIS has worked cooperatively with the 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 this area.  This removal of the quarantine 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

 

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