The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has updated two fruit fly quarantine areas following recent detections and successful eradication measures in the United States.
On November 20, APHIS and the Texas Department of Agriculture lifted the Mexican fruit fly quarantine in Harlingen, Cameron County, Texas. The decision released 71.89 square miles from quarantine, including 789.1 acres (319.4 hectares) of commercial citrus. The area qualified for release after three pest generations elapsed with no further detections, based on a degree-day model. During the quarantine period, APHIS restricted interstate movement of regulated articles and coordinated eradication activities with TDA. The updated status is now reflected on the APHIS Exotic Fruit Flies website, and a notice will be published in the Federal Register.
© USDA
In California, APHIS and the California Department of Food and Agriculture expanded the Mediterranean fruit fly quarantine in Santa Clara County on November 13. The expansion follows confirmed detections of wild Medfly females between October 24 and November 5 in residential areas of San Jose involving persimmon and fig hosts. The quarantine has grown by 19 square miles and now covers 224 square miles, including 58.76 acres (23.78 hectares) of commercial agriculture. This acreage includes grape, olive, orange, pepper, stone fruit, and tomato production. APHIS also corrected earlier acreage calculations, reducing previously reported commercial agriculture by 3.14 acres (1.27 hectares).
Safeguarding measures and restrictions on interstate movement remain in place in California to limit the spread of Medfly and to protect domestic and export markets. APHIS continues to work with CDFA and county agricultural commissioners to carry out survey, treatment, and regulatory protocols in line with program guidelines.
For more information:
Catherine Marzolf
USDA
Tel: +1 386 666 9932
Email: [email protected]
www.aphis.usda.gov
