The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) have expanded the Harlingen and Sebastian Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine areas in Texas and consolidated them into a single quarantine area, now termed the Harlingen-Sebastian quarantine. The quarantine area spans portions of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties.
DETECTIONS AND EXPANSIONS
Expansions occurred in three areas, following these confirmed detections:
- Aug. 15 and 19 of Mexfly larvae in citrus fruit in residential areas of Santa Rosa, Cameron County
- Sept. 12 of Mexfly larvae in citrus fruit, and on Sept. 17 and 20 of wild mated female Mexflies from traps in fruit trees in residential areas of Sebastian, Willacy County
- Sept. 17 of Mexfly larvae in oranges in a commercial grove and a wild mated female Mexfly from a trap in an orange tree in a residential area of La Feria, Cameron County
As a result of these changes, the combined quarantine area was increased by 72 square miles to 368 square miles. There are 1,387 acres of commercial citrus in the quarantine area.
QUARANTINE HISTORY
The Sebastian quarantine was established in March following the detection of a wild mated female Mexfly. They expanded the quarantine in April, May and August following detections of additional flies and larvae. The agencies released portions of the quarantine twice in August after three generations elapsed since the dates of the last detections in those portions.
The Harlingen quarantine was established in March following the detections of six wild mated female Mexflies. The quarantine was expanded in May, June and August following the detections of additional flies and Mexfly larvae. The agencies released portions of the quarantine in August after three generations elapsed since the dates of the last detections in those portions.
MORE INFORMATION
APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States and to prevent the pest’s entry into foreign trade. APHIS is working with TDA to eradicate transient Mexfly populations.
The quarantine changes are reflected on the APHIS exotic fruit flies website, which contains a description of all current federal fruit fly quarantine areas.
Source: USDA APHIS
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