After three lifecycles of not finding any Mexican fruit flies in the area, authorities have declared San Ygnacio in Zapata County, Texas to be free of the pest.

In an announcement, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said it established a Mexfly quarantine in Zapata County on June 29 after confirming one Mexfly larva in San Ygnacio.

"The quarantine restricted the interstate movement of regulated articles from that area to prevent the spread of the Mexfly to non-infested areas of the United States," APHIS said.

"Since that time, APHIS has worked cooperatively with the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas citrus industry to eradicate the transient Mexfly population using approved eradication protocols.

"APHIS removed the quarantine area after three lifecycles passed without finding additional Mexflies in this area. The following designated website contains a description of the current federal fruit fly quarantine areas."

According to the APHIS website, quarantine areas remain in Laredo (Webb County), in the area of Granejo/Hargill/Harlingen, and in Brownsville, Cameron County.

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