Country: United States

Title: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly): APHIS Establishes a Quarantine in San Ygnacio, Zapata County, Texas

Contact:
Richard Johnson, National Fruit Fly Policy Manager, at 301-851-2109.

Report:

Effective June 10, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in a residential area of San Ygnacio, Zapata County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area.

On June 10, APHIS confirmed three Mexfly larvae in San Ygnacio, Texas. APHIS, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), is responding to this confirmed detection by establishing a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 36.3 square miles of San Ygnacio, Zapata County. There is no commercial citrus within the quarantine area. APHIS is working with TDA to respond to this detection following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

Additional information about this quarantine area is on the following designated website, which contains a description of all current federal fruit fly quarantine areas:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantine

Under IPPC Standards, Anastrepha ludens is considered to be a pest that is transient, actionable, and under eradication in the United States.

Posted Date: July 15, 2019, 9 a.m.