APHIS Removes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine Areas in Palmview, Hidalgo County, and Zapata, Zapata County, Texas

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION
DA-2022-28
August 16, 2022

To:    State and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials 

Effective July 27, 2022, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine area in Palmview, Hidalgo County, Texas. 

Effective July 28, APHIS and TDA removed the Mexfly quarantine area in Zapata, Zapata County, Texas. 

On January 13, APHIS and TDA established a Mexfly quarantine in Palmview, Hidalgo County, Texas, and restricted interstate movement of regulated articles from this area to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States. This action was necessary after APHIS confirmed one mated female Mexfly from a trap in a sweet orange tree in a residential area. APHIS and TDA further expanded this quarantine on March 31 following the confirmed detections of five adult Mexflies from traps in various citrus trees in residential areas and commercial citrus groves. 

On March 22, APHIS and TDA established a Mexfly quarantine in Zapata, Zapata County, Texas, and restricted interstate movement of regulated articles from this area to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States. This action was necessary after APHIS confirmed one mated female Mexfly from a trap in a grapefruit tree in a residential area. 

Since that time, APHIS has worked cooperatively with TDA to eradicate these transient Mexfly populations through various control actions per program protocols. APHIS removed the quarantine areas after three Mexfly life cycles elapsed with no additional detections in this area. 

The following website contains a description of all the current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas: 

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

For additional information on the Mexfly quarantine area, please contact Fruit Fly National Policy Manager, Richard Johnson, at 301-851-2109. 

/s/ 

Dr. Mark L Davidson
Deputy Administrator 
Plant Protection and Quarantine