APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2018-41

November 9, 2018

 

Subject:           APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California

 

To:                   State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective October 25, 2018, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in a residential area of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area.

 

APHIS is taking this action because the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed a mated female Mexfly on October 25 in the Long Beach area of California. A second mated female Mexfly was confirmed October 26 in close proximity to the first. In cooperation with CDFA, APHIS is responding to these confirmed detections with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 79 square miles of Los Angeles County. There is no commercial citrus within the quarantine area; however, the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach and Long Beach Airport are within the quarantine zone.  APHIS is working with CDFA to respond to this detection following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

 

The establishment of this quarantine area 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 the National Fruit Fly Policy Manager, Richard Johnson, at 301-851-2109.

 

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine