Federal and Texas officials have amended the Brownsville Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Cameron County and the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County. In addition, they removed the Sebastian Mexfly quarantine in Willacy County and the Roma Mexfly quarantine in Starr County. The actions taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) are summarized below:
- On July 23, APHIS and TDA reduced the Brownsville quarantine by 16 square miles after three generations elapsed since the date of the last Mexfly detection in that portion. The quarantine is 131 square miles and includes 103 acres of commercial citrus.
- On July 23, the agencies reduced the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna quarantine by 94 square miles, including 4,177 acres of commercial citrus, after three generations elapsed since the last detection.
- On July 25, the agencies removed the Sebastian quarantine. This action released 71 square miles including 5 acres of commercial citrus from quarantine. Release from quarantine occurred after three generations elapsed since the date of the last detection.
- On July 30, APHIS and TDA further reduced the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna quarantine and separated the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna quarantine into two distinct Edinburg and Donna quarantines. The reduction totaled 64 square miles, including 2,741 acres of commercial citrus, after three generations elapsed since the date of the last Mexfly detection in that portion. The Edinburg quarantine area is 69 square miles and includes 457 acres of commercial citrus. The Donna quarantine is 137 square miles and includes 1,284 acres of commercial citrus.
- On July 30, the agencies removed the Roma quarantine. This action released 43 square miles from quarantine. The released area has no commercial citrus. Release from quarantine occurred after three generations elapsed since the date of the last detection.
The APHIS exotic fruit flies website contains descriptions and maps of the Mexfly quarantine areas and all current federal fruit fly quarantine areas.
Source: APHIS
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