APHIS Removes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantines in Mission and Sullivan City, Hidalgo County, Texas

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2019-32
December 2, 2019

 

Subject:   APHIS Removes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantines in Mission and Sullivan City, Hidalgo County, Texas

To:          State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

During the period from September 7 to 12, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed two Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines after completion of the required three generations without a detection, based on the degree-day model.

• Effective September 7, 2019, APHIS and TDA removed the Mexfly quarantine in Sullivan City, Hidalgo County, Texas. On April 15, APHIS confirmed a fifth Mexfly in Sullivan City, Texas, within three miles of each other and within a time period equal to one life cycle of the fly, triggering the establishment of a quarantine for this pest. The quarantine area encompassed approximately 82 square miles of Sullivan City, Hidalgo County.

• Effective September 12, 2019, APHIS and TDA removed the Mexfly quarantine in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas. On March 14, 2019, APHIS and TDA confirmed the quarantine trigger of five adult Mexflies. The designated quarantine of Edinburg, Texas included a portion of the quarantine that was located in the area of Mission, Texas.

APHIS has worked cooperatively with TDA to eradicate the transient Mexfly populations through various control actions per program protocols. The following website reflects the removal of these quarantine areas and contains descriptions 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 Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, Richard Johnson, at 301-851-2109.

/s/

Osama El-Lissy
Deputy Administrator
Plant Protection and Quarantine