South Texas citrus is under attack and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is asking residents for their help. Texas citrus in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is at risk of being infested by invasive and damaging fruit flies.
APHIS and the Texas Department of Agriculture are inspecting and surveying fruit trees in residential yards and commercial properties to check for signs of invasive plant pests and to protect the food supply and agricultural economy. Residents can help by cooperating with surveys and taking steps to keep invasive fruit flies off their backyard fruit. The main threat this season is an invasive fruit fly that is native to Mexico and Central America.
While this fruit fly is harmless to people and pets, it feeds on more than 40 kinds of fruits and vegetables. Invasive fruit fly larvae, more commonly known as maggots, can infest homegrown fruit, mature into adult flies, and then fly into commercial areas and spoil new harvests.
