Country: United States

Title: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly): APHIS Establishes Quarantines in Sullivan City, Hidalgo County and Salineño, Starr County, Texas

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

Report:

Effective April 15, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in residential areas of Sullivan City, Hidalgo County, Texas. Effective April 16, 2019, APHIS established another Mexfly quarantine in residential areas of Salineño, Starr County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas.

On April 15, APHIS confirmed a fifth female Mexfly in Sullivan City, Texas, triggering the establishment of a quarantine for this pest. The quarantine area encompasses approximately 82 square miles of Sullivan City, Hidalgo County. On April 16, APHIS confirmed a fifth female Mexfly in Salineño, Texas, triggering the establishment of a quarantine for this pest. The quarantine area encompasses approximately 66 square miles of Salineño, Starr County.

There are no commercial citrus production areas or packing sheds within either quarantine area. APHIS is working with the Texas Department of Agriculture to respond to these detections following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

The following website reflects the establishment of these quarantine areas and contains a description of all the 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: May 10, 2019, 9 a.m.