Country: United States

Title: Anastrepha ludens (Mexican fruit fly) - Regulated area established in Texas

Contact:
John Stewart, APHIS Exotic Fruit Fly Manager, at 919-855-7426

Report: On January 16, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) established a Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) regulated area in Weslaco, Hidalgo County, Texas. Additionally on January 23, APHIS and TDA established a regulated area in Lyford, Willacy County, Texas. APHIS immediately began applying restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from these areas, which encompass approximately 112 square miles in Weslaco and 209 square miles in Lyford. These actions are necessary to prevent the spread of mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States.

Between January 9 and January 16, five adult mexflies were detected in residential areas of Weslaco, Texas. Also, on January 23, a mated female mexfly was confirmed in the Lyford area of Willacy County, Texas. Subsequently, additional mexflies were detected in the Weslaco area for a total of 14 adult mexflies and three larvae found at two sites on March 5 and April 17. Five additional adult mexflies were also captured in Lyford. APHIS, in cooperation with TDA, is responding to these confirmed Mexican fruit fly detections following established program survey, treatment, and quarantine protocols.

The establishment of these regulated areas is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current federal fruit fly regulated areas:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/fruit_flies/index.shtml

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 22, 2014, 9 a.m.