Mexican Fruit Fly

Last Modified: August 20, 2024
Several pale orange-yellow mexflies with transparent wings on the surface of an orange.

The Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens or Mexfly) is a serious agricultural pest. It can infest more than 50 types of fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus and mango. The damage makes crops inedible and unmarketable.

Mexican fruit fly was first found in central Mexico in 1863 and along the California-Mexico border by the early 1950s. Today, Mexfly continues to pose a serious threat for the Texas citrus industry and a wide range of other valuable U.S. crops.

  • Appearance
    • Mexfly larvae (maggots) feed inside the fruit. They are legless, white to yellowish-white, and grow to a length of 0.4 inches.
    • Adult mexflies are larger than a house fly. Their body is a pale orange-yellow with two to three whitish stripes along the thorax. The wings are clear with several yellow and brown stripes.
    • Females also have a long, slender, tube-like organ called an ovipositor. They use this to deposit eggs beneath the fruit's skin.
  • Damage
    • Fruit decays early and falls to the ground as the larvae develop and feed on the pulp.

Download free apps at Explorer for ArcGIS to help you identify citrus pests, diseases, and cultivars.

Report Plant Pests and Diseases

Have you seen this pest or signs of pest damage? Immediately report your findings to your State plant health director or State plant regulatory official.

If you suspect that you have a Mexican fruit fly infestation, contact your local cooperative extension service for advice. Please cooperate with local, State, and Federal agricultural officials as they carry out their work.

Find your State plant health director

Controlling Mexican Fruit Fly