On March 11, 2024, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) established a Mexican fruit fly (Anastrepha ludens; Mexfly) quarantine in Zapata, Zapata County, Texas. On March 21, APHIS and TDA established Mexfly quarantines in Brownsville, Cameron County and in Sebastian, Willacy County.
On March 22, APHIS and TDA established a Mexfly quarantine in Sullivan City, Hidalgo County. The establishment of the Zapata quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection on March 7 of a wild mated female Mexfly from a trap in a grapefruit tree in a residential area. The quarantine encompasses approximately 39 square miles. There is no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area.
The establishment of the Brownville quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection on March 5 of a wild mated female Mexfly from a trap in a grapefruit tree in a residential area. The quarantine encompasses approximately 66 square miles. There are 49 acres of commercial citrus in the quarantine area. The establishment of the Sebastian quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection on March 13 of a wild mated female Mexfly from a trap in a residential area. The quarantine encompasses approximately 71 square miles of Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties. There are 44 acres of commercial citrus in the quarantine area.
The establishment of the Sullivan City quarantine is in response to the confirmed detection on March 12 of three (3) wild mated female Mexfly from traps in orange trees in residential areas. The quarantine encompasses approximately 68 square miles of Hidalgo and Starr Counties. There is no commercial agriculture in the quarantine area.
APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles to prevent the spread of Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States, as well as to prevent the entry of these fruit flies into foreign trade. APHIS is working with TDA to eradicate transient Mexfly populations following program guidelines for survey, treatment, and regulatory actions.
The establishment of these quarantine areas is reflected on the APHIS fruit fly website, which contains a description of all current federal fruit fly quarantine areas. APHIS will publish a notice of these changes in the Federal Register.
For more information:
Richard Johnson
Fruit Fly National Policy Manager
Tel.: +1 301-851-2109
Email: richard.n.johnson@usda.gov.