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

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2018-34
September 18, 2018

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

To: State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

Effective September 10, 2018, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in the San Ygnacio area, Zapata County, Texas.

On May 12, 2018, APHIS and TDA established a Mexfly quarantine in a regulated area of San Ygnacio, 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 May 12, 2018. Since that time, APHIS has worked cooperatively with the TDA to eradicate the transient Mexfly population through various control actions according to program protocols. APHIS removed the quarantine area after three Mexfly life-cycles elapsed with negative detections in this area. The removal of this 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