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

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2019-04

 

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

                           Hidalgo County, Texas

To:                      State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective March 14, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in Edinburg, Hidalgo County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area.

 

On March 14, APHIS confirmed a fifth female Mexfly in Edinburg, Texas, triggering the establishment of a quarantine for this pest. As of March 15, APHIS confirmed two additional Mexfly adults inside the quarantine for a total of seven flies. APHIS, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), is responding to these confirmed detections with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 163 square miles of Edinburg, Hidalgo County. There are 3,810 acres of commercial citrus within the quarantine area. APHIS is working with TDA to respond to these detections 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 quarantine areas:

 

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