Country: United States

Title: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican Fruit Fly): APHIS Establishes a Quarantine in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas

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

Report:

Effective April 26, 2019, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) quarantine in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area.

On April 26, APHIS confirmed one mated female Mexfly in Brownsville, Texas, triggering the establishment of a quarantine for this pest. As of May 2, APHIS confirmed five additional Mexfly adults and two larvae inside the quarantine for a total of seven flies. APHIS, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), is responding to these confirmed detections with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 111 square miles of Brownsville, Cameron County. There are 182 acres of commercial citrus within the quarantine area. APHIS is working with TDA 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 establishment of this quarantine area is described on the following designated website, which 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 20, 2019, 9 a.m.