APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in Arroyo City, Cameron County, Texas

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION

DA-2019-10

May 22, 2019

Subject:          APHIS Establishes a Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in Arroyo City, Cameron County, Texas

To:                  State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

 

Effective May 6, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in Arroyo City, Cameron County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area.

 

On May 6, APHIS confirmed one mated female Mexfly in Arroyo City, Texas. As of May 8, APHIS had confirmed one additional Mexfly larva inside the quarantine. 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 74 square miles of Arroyo City, Cameron County. There are 65 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 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 Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, Richard Johnson, at 301-851-2109.

 

 

 

Osama El-Lissy

Deputy Administrator

Plant Protection and Quarantine