APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in Zapata, Zapata County, Texas

 

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2019-03

 

Subject:              APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in Zapata, Zapata

                           County, Texas

To:                     State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective March 9, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in a residential area of Zapata, Zapata County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area.

 

On March 9, APHIS confirmed four male and two female Mexflies in Zapata, Texas. APHIS, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), is responding to this confirmed detection with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 77 square miles of Zapata County. There is no commercial citrus nor are there packing sheds within the quarantine area. APHIS is working with TDA 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 following website reflects the establishment of this quarantine area and contains a description of all the current federal fruit fly quarantines:

 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/plant-pest-and-disease-programs/pests-and-diseases/fruit-flies/quarantine

 

For additional information on the Mexfly quarantine area, please contact the Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, Richard Johnson, at 301-851-2109.

 

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine