Mexican Fruit Fly
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Mexican Fruit Fly

The Mexican fruit fly is native to southern and central Mexico. Each year, the pest enters the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s 27,000 acres of commercial citrus crops from south of the border and attacks more than 40 different kinds of fruits. Damage occurs when the female fly lays eggs in the fruit, which then hatch into larvae, making the fruit unmarketable.

The fly is also a threat to surrounding citrus-producing states, including California, Arizona, Louisiana and Florida. Economic losses due to infestation not only are measured in damaged crops, but also in costs associated with eradication and shipping protocols aimed at consumer protection.

Primary eradication tactics include surveillance, bait sprays and Sterile Insect Techniques (SIT).

 

QUARANTINE REGULATIONS

TDA’s Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine regulations are found in the Texas Administrative Code Title 4, Chapter 19, Subchapter V.


CLICK HERE to view TDA's Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine regulations in 2-column format, for your convenience.
CLICK HERE to view TDA's Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine on the Texas Secretary of State's website.

  

GEOGRAPHIC AREAS SUBJECT TO THE QUARANTINE

Under provisions in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 4, Chapter 19, (having to do with quarantined areas), the department has designated this page for declarations and descriptions concerning areas in Texas that are quarantined for Mexican Fruit Fly. Names and legal descriptions of quarantined areas are effective and enforceable upon being published on this page.

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) removed the Mexican fruit fly (Mexfly) quarantine areas in Hargill, Palmview in South Texas, after three generations elapsed with no additional detections in these areas. 

Brownsville MXFF Quarantined Area:
CLICK HERE to view Map of the Brownsville MXFF Quarantined Area.
CLICK HERE to view Legal Description of the Brownsville MXFF Quarantined Area.

Donna MXFF Quarantined Area:
CLICK HERE to view Map of the Donna MXFF Quarantined Area.
CLICK HERE to view Legal Description of the Donna MXFF Quarantined Area.

Edinburg MXFF Quarantined Area:
CLICK HERE to view Map of the Edinburg MXFF Quarantined Area.
CLICK HERE to view Legal Description of the Edinburg MXFF Quarantined Area.

Harlingen/Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area:
CLICK HERE to view Map of the Harlingen/Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area.
CLICK HERE to view Legal Description of the Harlingen/Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area.


CLICK HERE for INTERACTIVE MAP that shows if you are in a quarantined area.

(1) Click on the link (above) to see the map.
(2) In the upper left corner of the map page, click on the magnifying glass icon and enter your address.
(3) Zoom out from your address, to see if it's inside the border of one of the colored quarantined areas
    (Use the "+" or the "-" button to zoom in or out).

 

2024 CHRONOLOGY

10/17/2024. The Edinburg MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area has expanded to 107.22 square miles in Hidalgo County.
 
10/11/2024. The Harlingen/Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area was reduced to 318.37 square miles in Cameron, Willacy, and Hidalgo County.
 
10/09/2024. The Donna MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area has expanded to 96.48 square miles in Cameron County. 
 
09/27/2024. The Harlingen MXFF Quarantined Area and Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area are hereby modified and consolidated. The quarantine area spans to 368.32 square miles in Cameron, Willacy, and Hidalgo County.
 
08/30/2024. The Edinburg MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 70.98 square miles in Hidalgo County.
 
08/30/2024. The Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area was reduced to 70.98 square miles in Willacy County.
 
08/29/2024. The Harlingen MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area was reduced to 225.3 square miles in Cameron County.
 
08/15/2024. The Donna MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 70.98 square miles in Cameron County. 
 
08/15/2024. The Zapata MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby removed from quarantined areas and core areas in Rule §19.502. The quarantined area falls under Zapata County.
 
08/02/2024. The Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area was reduced to 143.88 square miles in Willacy County.
 
08/02/2024. The Brownsville MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 72.45 square miles in Cameron County.
 
07/22/2024. The La Rosita MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified by deregulating the 48.14 square miles in Starr County. 
 
07/20/2024. The Brownsville MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified by deregulating the 99.32 square miles in Cameron County. 
 
07/16/2024. The Sullivan MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified by deregulating the 68 square miles in Hidalgo County. 
 
06/25/2024. The Harlingen MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area has expanded to 342.04 square miles in Cameron County.
 
05/20/2024. The Harlingen MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area has expanded to 336.57 square miles in Cameron County.
 
05/20/2024. The Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area has expanded to 173.88 square miles in Willacy County.
 
04/16/2024. The Bayview MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 71.01 square miles in Cameron County.
 
04/03/2024. The Brownsville MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area has expanded to 99.32 square miles in Cameron County.
 
04/03/2024. The La Rosita MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 48.14 square miles in Starr County.
 
04/03/2024. The Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby modified. The quarantine area has expanded to 91.05 square miles in Willacy County.
 
03/26/2024. The Harlingen MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 301.56 square miles in Cameron County.
 
03/22/2024. The Sullivan City MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 68.00 square miles in Hidalgo County.
 
03/21/2024. The Brownsville MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 65.84 square miles in Cameron County.
 
03/21/2024. The Sebastian MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 70.88 square miles in Willacy County.
 
03/11/2024. The Zapata MXFF Quarantined Area is hereby established. The quarantine area spans to 38.77 square miles in Zapata County.
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