WESLACO – A citrus expert is asking residents living in Hidalgo and Cameron counties to throw away citrus grown at home this season.

Texas A&M Kingsville Citrus Center researchers said a quarantine issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on the Mexican fruit fly is affecting certain parts of the Rio Grande Valley.

Those living in the Brownsville, La Joya, Donna and Santa Rosa areas often have citrus trees in their own yards.

Texas A&M University-Kingsville professor Mamoudou Setamou said any leftover citrus harvested there in the spring should be thrown away. He said it may be infested by the pest.

“Those fruits can also serve as a host to the Mexican fruit fly. They are continuously used by the Mexican fruit fly as a breeding ground. That is why we think the homeowner needs to join the fight,” he said.

Most citrus was harvested by late April, but any fruits still lying around must be thrown away.