Mexfly Quarantine Expanded in Texas

Agriculture officials on Nov. 18 expanded the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Donna, Hidalgo County, Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) took the action.

Expansion of the Donna quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection on Nov. 14 of a Mexfly larva in fruit on a residential property. The quarantine area increased by 21 square miles to 117 square miles and includes 1,249 acres of commercial citrus.

APHIS and TDA established the original quarantine on Aug. 15 following the detection of Mexfly larvae in citrus fruit in a commercial grove. They expanded the quarantine on Sept. 28 following the detection of Mexfly larvae on a residential property.

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, as well as to prevent the entry of these fruit flies into foreign trade. APHIS is working with TDA to eradicate transient pest populations following program guidelines for survey, treatment and regulatory actions.

The APHIS exotic fruit flies website contains descriptions and maps of the new quarantine areas, as well as all current federal fruit fly quarantine areas. APHIS will publish a notice of these changes in the Federal Register.

Mexfly can infest more than 50 types of fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus and mango. The damage makes crops inedible and unmarketable.

See other recent news about Mexfly quarantines in Texas here.

Additional information on the quarantine areas can be obtained from APHIS National Policy Manager Richard Johnson by email at richard.n.johnson@usda.gov or by phone at 301-851-2109. Information can also be obtained from APHIS Assistant National Policy Manager Avraham Eitam by email at  avraham.eitam@usda.gov or by phone at 614-205-4565.

Source: APHIS

Sponsored Content