Texas Mexfly Quarantine Actions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture have taken several Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine actions in Texas since mid-August.

DONNA

On Aug. 15, the agencies established a Mexfly quarantine in Donna, Hidalgo County. This is in response to the confirmed detection on Aug. 10 of Mexfly larvae in citrus fruit in a commercial grove. The quarantine area encompasses approximately 71 square miles and contains approximately 908 acres of commercial citrus.

HARLINGEN

On Aug. 29, a Harlingen Mexfly quarantine in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties was revised. The quarantine was expanded in one area in response to the confirmed detection on July 16 of a wild mated female Mexfly from a trap in a grapefruit tree in Le Feria, Cameron County. The quarantine was reduced in other areas after three generations elapsed since the last detection in those areas. As a result of these changes, the quarantine area was reduced by 117 square miles to 225 square miles of Cameron and Hidalgo counties. There are 1,199 acres of commercial citrus in the remaining quarantine area.

EDINBURG

On Aug. 30, a Mexfly quarantine in Edinburg, Hidalgo County was established. This was in response to the confirmed detection on Aug. 14 of Mexfly larvae in sour orange fruit on a residential property. The quarantine area encompasses approximately 71 square miles and contains approximately 2,533 acres of commercial citrus.

SEBASTIAN

On Aug. 30, a Sebastian Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo and Willacy counties was reduced by 73 square miles to 71 square miles. This action was taken after three generations elapsed since the date of the last detection in a portion of the quarantine area. There are 5 acres of commercial citrus in the remaining quarantine area.

The changes to these quarantine areas are reflected on the APHIS exotic fruit flies website.

Source: USDA APHIS

Sponsored Content