APHIS Removes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in Texas

FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION 
DA-2025-44 
October 16, 2025

Subject: APHIS Removes Mexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens) Quarantine in Texas

To: State, Tribal, and Territory Agricultural Regulatory Officials

On October 9, 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed the Donna Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County, Texas. This action released 71 square miles from quarantine, including 322 acres of commercial citrus. Release from quarantine occurred after three generations elapsed since the date of the last detection, based on a degree-day model. 

APHIS restricted the interstate movement of regulated articles from this area to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States. APHIS worked cooperatively with TDA to eradicate this transient Mexfly population through various control actions per program protocols.

The APHIS Exotic Fruit Flies website contains a description of all current Federal fruit fly quarantine areas. APHIS will publish a notice of this change in the Federal Register.

For additional information you may contact: 

Catherine Marzolf
National Policy Manager 
386-666-9932
catherine.a.marzolf@usda.gov
 

/s/
Matthew A. Rhoads
Acting Deputy Administrator Plant Protection and Quarantine