The Mexican Fruit Fly’s Effect on the Texas

The citrus industry has a long list of diseases that are a constant battle for citrus growers. Citrus greening, citrus canker, greasy spot, sooty mold, laprosis…and the list goes on. And yet, the Mexican Fruit Fly is causing the most havoc to the citrus industry this season. BY ELISHA ENSIGN

As of February 21st, there have been 119 flies found and there are two quarantines in place. Currently, 3,335 acres are quarantined in the Harlingen/Brownsville area and 774 acres in La Sara. Unfortunately, these finds are increasing daily and the potential for expanded quarantines is on the horizon.

First, let’s take a look at what the Mexican Fruit fly is, then we can go into the effects on growers and steps for growers and residents to take in general and when within a quarantine.

TheMexican Fruit Fly (Anastrepha ludens), commonly known as Mexfly, is a serious pest to various fruits, particularly citrus. Mexican fruit fly was first found in Central Mexico in 1863, and by the early 1950’s flies were found along the California-Mexico border. The pest has since been detected in Arizona, California and Texas. More than 50 commercially grown crops, including avocado, grape fruit, orange, peach, papaya, lime, tangerine, pomegranate, plum and pear are host plants for the Mexican Fruit Fly.

Female fruit flies lay their eggs in ripening fruit. The eggs hatch into larvae that eat the flesh of the fruit, causing it to rot. Fruit that has been attacked may be unfit to eat. Larvae feed while tunneling through the interior of infested fruits. Microscopic organisms invade these injured areas causing internal decay of the fleshy portions of the fruit. Also, it is important to note that the Mexican fruit fly is not harmful to humans or pets.

The Texas Citrus Industry along with The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas De partment of Agriculture (TDA) have been working on a suppression program since 1986. This program releases sterile fruit flies in an effort to eradicate the Mexican fruit fly from South Texas. This program is certainly important and helpful, and yet this season we are dealing with an overwhelming number of fly finds.

How a Quarantine Effects Growers A Mexican Fruit Fly quarantine is put into place by USDA when: • 5 flies are found within 3 miles of each other and within a time period equal to one life cycle of the fly • 1 mated female is found (known or suspected to have mated to a wild male) • Larvae or pupae are found Once the quarantine is in place, this greatly effects commercial citrus growers within that quarantine and specifically within the core of the quarantine. Growers are given three options. To send their fruit to juice, which is a great financial loss. To Fumigate. Or to bait certify, which can also be a very expensive process which reduces profits for that effected grove. Overall, a Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine is a great financial loss for any commercial grove that is located within that quarantine.

What can be done? Oftentimes, Mexican fruit flies are found in residential trees. This could be because residents aren’t properly caring for their tree(s) or they are leaving unused fruit hanging on the tree or fallen on the ground, which is a haven for the Mexican Fruit Fly. In order to help reduce the Mexican Fruit Fly population, growers and residents must work together.

• It is very important to remove all RIPE citrus fruit from the tree at the end of the season to reduce the Mexfly population. Either eat the fruit or dispose of it, double bagged in the trash. If you have fruit that you do not intend to eat, such as Sour Oranges, it is best to remove that fruit as soon as possible to avoid your tree harboring the Mexican Fruit Fly.

• Residents can help by not bringing or mailing fruit into Texas unless they are cleared by agricultural inspectors beforehand. Mexican Fruit Fly and other pests can hitch a ride in or on prohibited produce.

• Residents can cooperate with any quarantine restriction or rules that might be imposed because of a Mexican fruit fly find in the area – keep homegrown produce on your own property.

• Residents should cooperate to allow authorized agricul tural workers access to their property to inspect fruit, place traps and treat trees

• If residents must move fruit from a Mexican fruit fly quarantine area, make sure the fruit is canned, frozen or juiced. No fresh fruit should be moved from a property in a Mexican fruit fly quarantine zone.

For the latest Mexican Fruit Fly quarantine maps, you can download the free app, Explorer for ArcGIS. Open the app and go to maps and search forMXFF. Touch on the latest map by date or quarantine area to see up to date information about the Mexican Fruit Fly Quarantine.