Agriculture officials on March 5 established a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in La Mesa, San Diego County, California, designated the La Mesa quarantine. On March 10 they expanded the quarantine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) established the La Mesa quarantine in response to …
Sapote Fruit Fly Quarantines Established
Three sapote fruit fly quarantines have been established in Texas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Altogether, the quarantines encompass approximately 1,102 acres of commercial citrus. On Feb. 23, APHIS and TDA established one quarantine in Rio Hondo and another in Harlingen, Cameron County. They were …
Pest Management Challenges in CUPS
By Lauren Diepenbrock Citrus under protective screen (CUPS) has provided growers with a profitable method for producing fresh fruit in Florida. Growers who have implemented this system have noted quality fruit production and reduced inputs. However, when changes are imposed to the production environment, they are also imposed to the invertebrate pest complex, which can be either beneficial or detrimental …
Pest Control in Protected Production Systems
In a recent virtual presentation, entomologist Jawwad Qureshi discussed monitoring and control measures for citrus pests in trees under individual protective covers (IPCs) and in citrus under protective screen (CUPS). Qureshi is an associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Southwest Florida Research and Education Center in Immokalee. MONITORING METHODS Qureshi’s noted that …
After Freeze, Ambrosia Beetles Are Potential Threat
Florida citrus growers should be on the lookout for an uncommon citrus pest following the recent freeze events that devastated crops throughout the state. During a recent postfreeze webinar hosted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Team, Lauren Diepenbrock, associate professor and entomologist, warned growers about the ambrosia beetle. This pest can prey on …
Planning Spring Snail Management
By Lauren M. Diepenbrock Many citrus growers in Florida have been impacted by Bulimulus bonariensis (previously referred to as Bulimulus sporadicus) since the first reports of this pest in groves in 2020. This snail is an ongoing challenge and, with funding from the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has …
Federal HLB Quarantine Established in Arizona
Federal agriculture officials recently established an area quarantined for HLB in, paralleling the intrastate quarantine that the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) established on Feb. 7, 2025. The quarantined area of approximately 9 square miles is in the Nogales area of Santa Cruz County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) took the recent action …
Another Mexfly Quarantine Established in Texas
Federal and state agriculture officials on Jan. 26 established a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Granjeno, Hidalgo County, Texas, designated the Granjeno quarantine. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) took the action. APHIS and TDA established the Granjeno quarantine in response to the detection on Jan. …
West Indian Fruit Fly in Texas Grapefruit Triggers Quarantine
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on Jan. 16 established a West Indian fruit fly (Anastrepha obliqua) quarantine in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas. It is designated the Palmview quarantine. This action parallels a quarantine established by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) on Jan. 13. APHIS took the action in response to the confirmed …
More Citrus Acreage Affected by Mexfly Quarantine Expansion
Agriculture officials on Dec. 30 expanded the Peñitas Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in 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. APHIS and TDA expanded the Peñitas quarantine following the Dec. 22 confirmed detection of one Mexfly larva in a tangerine collected …
Planning Pest Management for Florida Citrus in 2026
By Lauren Diepenbrock Pest management is a year-round challenge in Florida citrus. But with knowledge of insect, mite and snail seasonal biology in relation to tree phenology, plans can be developed to protect fruit and maintain productive citrus trees. Populations of some highly problematic pests (Asian citrus psyllid and citrus leafminer) generally increase with flush/new growth development, so targeting peak …
Mexfly Quarantines Impact Commercial Citrus in Texas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently established and expanded Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine areas in Texas. PEÑITAS QUARANTINE On Dec. 12, the agencies established a Mexfly quarantine in Peñitas, Hidalgo County, designated as the Peñitas quarantine. This quarantine was established in response to the confirmed …
Updated Australian Citrus Guide Available
The new Citrus Plant Protection Guide 2025-26 from Australia’s New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW DPIRD) is available online. The seventh edition of the guide provides up-to-date information on all aspects of managing pests and diseases in citrus orchards and includes updates on NSW DPIRD projects. Some of the projects are funded by Hort Innovation …
Can Physical Barriers Improve Sting Nematode and Root Weevil Management?
Larry Duncan, professor of nematology with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), recently presented his research regarding the management of sting nematodes and diaprepes root weevils. The presentation was part of an ongoing series of Zoom meetings organized by Mongi Zekri, UF//IFAS citrus Extension agent. STING NEMATODE Sting nematode is an important pest, especially in …
New Mexfly Quarantine in Texas
On Dec. 5, U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) officials established a new Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine. Located in La Feria, Cameron County, Texas, it has been designated the La Feria quarantine. FOUND IN GRAPEFRUIT GROVE APHIS and TDA established the new quarantine in response to the Dec. …
Quarantine Changes for California and Texas
Federal and state agriculture officials recently made changes to huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening disease) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantines in California. They also removed a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine in Texas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported these changes. CALIFORNIA HLB On Nov. 25, APHIS and the California …
HLB and Medfly Quarantines Expanded
California’s huanglongbing (HLB, also known as citrus greening) quarantine and its Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine were recently expanded. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) expanded the quarantines. HLB The HLB-quarantined area in Riverside County was expanded by 3 square miles. …
Medfly Quarantine Expansion
Federal and state agriculture officials expanded the Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine twice in late October in California’s Alameda and Santa Clara counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) enacted the expansion. On Oct. 21, the agencies expanded the quarantine in response to …
Several Expansions to Santa Clara Medfly Quarantine
Over the past month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) have expanded the Santa Clara Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) quarantine in California three times. Their actions resulted in the inclusion of a portion of Alameda County in the quarantine while also expanding the quarantine area …
Changes to Mexfly Quarantines in Texas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) have made several recent changes to Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantines in Texas. DONNA REMOVED On Sept. 10, the agencies reduced the Donna Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County by 66 square miles, including 945 acres of commercial citrus. The amended quarantine …




























