The Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) declared the Queensland fruit fly outbreak in Salisbury North and surrounding areas after six flies were found in traps as part of regular surveillance activities.
Residents have been urged to not remove fresh and vegetables from their properties and to follow quarantine requirements.
PIRSA staff, easily identifiable by their orange overalls and identification, have started visiting households.
These staff members will be applying an organic bait to foliage and checking fruit for signs of fruit fly including maggots.
PIRSA Director of Plant and Invasive Species Biosecurity Nick Secomb said he was confident that proven control methods would lead to a successful eradication – but that it was vitally important the community followed all quarantine restrictions.
“Anyone moving fruit can potentially spread this pest, so it is critical that people within the 1.5km Outbreak Area follow our advice and do not move any fresh fruit or fruiting vegetables from their properties – including giving it away to family, neighbours and selling it online,” said Mr Secomb.
“Ripe fruit in gardens is a host for fruit fly and the perfect place they look for to lay their maggots, so now is the time to check any fruit on your trees – including stone fruit – for bruising or maggots, and report anything unusual to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.”
To find out if your property is impacted, visit the fruit fly outbreak map.
Mr Secomb said that the approaching cooler weather in autumn could slow Queensland fruit fly activity, but not stop it entirely.
“It’s important to make sure your garden is tidy, pick up any fallen fruit off the ground and remove any unwanted fruit from your trees and place it in your green bin, to help break the fruit fly life cycle,” he said.
“We have a strong success rate of eradicating fruit fly and we want to keep it that way, but we need residents to follow our advice and help us by giving easy access to their yards.”
If no further wild flies or larvae are detected, PIRSA anticipates the quarantine in Salisbury North will be lifted later this year.
To learn more about quarantine requirements, visit fruit fly outbreak restrictions.
