The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) say the agencies amended Mexican fruit fly quarantines in the state.
These include the Harlingen-Sebastian Mexfly quarantine in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties and the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County and removed the Sullivan City Mexfly quarantine in Hidalgo County.
On July 1, APHIS and TDA reduced the Harlingen-Sebastian quarantine by 62 square miles, including 135 acres of commercial citrus, after three generations had elapsed since the date of the last Mexfly detection in that portion, based on a degree-day model.
On July 14, APHIS and TDA further reduced the Harlingen-Sebastian quarantine and separated the Harlingen-Sebastian quarantine into distinct Harlingen and Sebastian quarantines. The reduction totaled 194 square miles, including 377 acres of commercial citrus after three generations had elapsed since the date of the last Mexfly detection in that portion, based on a degree-day model. The Harlingen quarantine is 101 square miles and includes 941 acres of commercial citrus. The Sebastian quarantine is 71 square miles and includes five acres of commercial citrus.
Also on July 14, APHIS and TDA reduced the Edinburg-Palmview-Donna quarantine by 65 square miles after three generations had elapsed since the date of the last Mexfly detection in that portion, based on a degree-day model. The amended quarantine area is 365 square miles and includes 8,755 acres of commercial citrus. On the same day, APHIS and TDA removed the Sullivan City quarantine. This action released 71 square miles from quarantine. There was no commercial citrus in this quarantine area. APHIS says release from quarantine occurred after three generations elapsed since the date of the last detection, based on a degree-day model.
APHIS says it is working with the Texas Department of Agriculture to eradicate transient Mexfly populations in the state.
APHIS says its exotic fruit flies web page contains descriptions and maps of the Mexfly quarantine areas and all current federal fruit fly quarantine areas.
