A second fruit fly incursion has been discovered on Flinders Island.
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Biosecurity Tasmania confirmed fruit fly larvae on apricots at Trousers Point on South-West Flinders Island, after another incursion was announced at Lady Barron on Friday.
Trousers Point is approximately 20 kilometres west of Lady Barron in southern Flinders Island, alongside the Strzelecki National Park.
The larvae is a species of Bactrocera fruit fly, which is a List A pest under the Plant Quarantine Act 1997.
Chief plant health officer Andrew Bishop said the larvae was found on apricot trees on a private property at Trousers Point.
“The property contains 14 apricot trees and Biosecurity officers have visited the site and are liaising with property owners, looking at response planning and treatment options and steps to determine the potential source of the incursion,” Mr Bishop said.
“There are a number of other host fruit trees on this second site, including pears, apples, nectarines, peaches and green gauges,” he said.
Biosecurity Tasmania staff are collecting information and investigating around the Trousers Point and Lady Barron areas.
“We are taking this seriously but it is important to also note that the incursion is contained on Flinders Island,” Mr Bishop said.
“As a precaution, Biosecurity Tasmania is declaring Flinders Island as a control area.”
Flinders Island is not a commercial fruit growing area and does not export fruit, which means export markets from mainland Tasmania should not be affected.
Biosecurity Tasmania has protocols in place to address detection of fruit fly and additional Biosecurity Officers have travelled to Flinders Island to liaise with the property owners and conduct survey and treatment work.
“Residents in and around Lady Barron and Trousers Point will receive information outlining Biosecurity Tasmania’s response plan, the treatment options and what measures people can take relating to the movement and removal of fruit,” Mr Bishop said.
Flinders Island residents have been urged to be vigilant and look out for signs of fruit fly and larvae.
Fruit fly larvae look like blowfly maggots and are usually easy to see in the flesh of the fruit.
People are required by law to report promptly any signs of fruit fly on their property.
If you see anything suspicious call Biosecurity Tasmania on (03) 6165 3777.
More information about fruit fly can be found at www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/plant-biosecurity/pests-and-diseases/fruit-fly