APHIS Establishes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantines in Sullivan City, Hidalgo County and Salineño, Starr County, Texas

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2019-05

May 7, 2019

 

 

Subject:   APHIS Establishes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantines in Sullivan    

               City, Hidalgo County and Salineño, Starr County, Texas

 

To:         State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective April 15, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in residential areas of Sullivan City, Hidalgo County, Texas. Effective April 16, 2019, APHIS established another Mexfly quarantine in residential areas of Salineño, Starr County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas.

 

On April 15, APHIS confirmed a fifth female Mexfly in Sullivan City, Texas, triggering the establishment of a quarantine for this pest. The quarantine area encompasses approximately 82 square miles of Sullivan City, Hidalgo County. On April 16, APHIS confirmed a fifth female Mexfly in Salineño, Texas, triggering the establishment of a quarantine for this pest. The quarantine area encompasses approximately 66 square miles of Salineño, Starr County.

 

There are no commercial citrus production areas or packing sheds within either quarantine area. APHIS is working with the Texas Department of Agriculture 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 these quarantine areas and 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 Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, Richard Johnson, at 301-851-2109.

 

 

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine