If you see a low-flying plane over your suburb on a Saturday morning don’t be concerned – it’s just the latest step in South Australia’s battle against fruit fly.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions is about to commence a 12-week aerial release of sterile Queensland fruit flies – known as Qflies – to support efforts to eradicate current outbreaks in the Salisbury North and Glynde areas.

Over the course of the program, seven million sterile Qflies will be released from a light aircraft each week to disrupt the fruit fly breeding cycle and protect the state's fruit-growing regions.

While South Australia remains the only mainland state to hold fruit fly-free status in major production regions, occasional outbreaks require urgent and science-led action.

The sterile flies are harmless and cannot cause an outbreak. Instead, they mate with wild flies and produce no offspring – a technique known as the Sterile Insect Technique, or SIT.

This reduces the fruit fly population over time and prevents the pest from spreading.

The SIT release will take place each Saturday morning for 12 weeks, with the first aerial flight planned to start on 9 August.

The flies will be released over suburbs affected by the Glynde and Salisbury North outbreaks, including areas in Adelaide’s inner north, east and west.

Fruit Fly Response Program general manager Jason Size said the release of sterile Qflies was one of the most effective eradication tools.

"This is a large-scale, coordinated effort using world-class science to protect our horticultural industry and home gardens from a serious pest," Mr Size said.

"We know this method works, and by deploying it ahead of the warmer months, we’re acting early to reduce the pest’s ability to rebound."

For more information visit: Fruit fly in South Australia (external site)

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