Mexfly find in south Texas brings expanded quarantine
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture have established a Mexican fruit fly quarantine in Willacy County, Texas.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is “applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area,” according to a news release from APHIS.
On Jan. 21, APHIS confirmed that two female and four male adult Mexflies were found in a residential sour orange tree in Lasara, Texas. APHIS and the Texas Department of Agriculture established a new quarantine area of 83 square
miles in Willacy County. There are 852 acres of commercial citrus in Texas quarantine areas, according to the release.
The current fruit fly quarantine areas in the U.S. are available in an online map from APHIS.
Related stories:
USDA lifts Mexfly quarantines in Texas
Fruit fly quarantine covers Southern California ports
Texas citrus marketing lightens budget
