Original images by Division of Plant Industry
Fruit fly quarantines impacting commercial citrus have been removed in Texas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).
SAPOTE FRUIT FLY
APHIS and TDA removed the sapote fruit fly (Anastrepha serpentina) quarantines in Cameron and Hildalgo counties. The quarantines included the Harlingen and Rio Hondo quarantined areas in Cameron County and the Alamo quarantined area in Hidalgo County. This action releases a total of 212.64 square miles from quarantine, including 1,138.61 acres of commercial citrus.
APHIS originally restricted the interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas to prevent the spread of sapote fruit flies to non-infested areas of the United States. APHIS and TDA have now successfully eradicated these transient sapote fruit fly populations using approved program control methods.
WEST INDIAN FRUIT FLY
APHIS and TDA removed the West Indian fruit fly (Anastrepha obliqua) quarantine in Hidalgo County, designated the Palmview quarantine. This action released 68.2 square miles from quarantine, including 495.7 acres of commercial citrus.
APHIS originally restricted the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area to prevent the spread of West Indian fruit flies to non-infested areas of the United States. APHIS and TDA have now successfully eradicated this transient West Indian fruit fly population using approved program control methods.
MORE FRUIT FLY INFORMATION
Maps and descriptions of all the current federal fruit fly quarantine areas can be found on the APHIS Exotic Fruit Flies webpage.
Learn more about the sapote fruit fly from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). Get information about the West Indian fruit fly from UF/IFAS here.
Source: APHIS
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