The Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment department implemented a spot baiting program in the fruit fly control zones at Flinders Island and Spreyton on Tuesday.
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This baiting program comes after five adult male fruit flies were discovered at the first Flinders Island site on Monday and another fruit fly larvae found at the Spreyton site on Tuesday.
Department incident controller for fruit fly response Wes Ford said the baiting program would continue for at least 12 weeks.
“We have to do some 440 properties within the Spreyton region once a week for the next 12 weeks. This is a major undertaking,” Mr Ford said.
The bait is a liquid blend of protein and sugar mixed with insecticide so it attracts and kills the flies as they came out of the ground.
Department general manager Lloyd Klumpp said the adult flies were found within 200 metres of the first Flinders Island site.
Three flies were found on the infected property and two on adjacent properties.
Adult flies are not unexpected because fruit flies have a seven-to-nine-day period while they pupate.
“Contact has started with landholders around the identified properties to undertake spot baiting of possible host plants over coming days,” Dr Klumpp said.
The department aims to break the fruit fly life cycle through this baiting program, which has been used successfully in mainland Australian states where fruit flies are prevalent.
Commercial fruit growers within the 15-kilometre control zone cannot sell their fruit outside the zone without a clearance certificate from Biosecurity Tasmania.
“Backyard growers cannot give their fruit to other people, they cannot sell their fruit and their fruit cannot leave the control zone, so for some people who have got lots of ripe fruit, they will have to start thinking about putting it in the freezer,” Mr Ford said.
“We have to be very vigilant that the fruit does not leave the control zone,” he said.
More information about fruit fly can be found at the department’s website: dpipwe.tas.gov.au/biosecurity-tasmania/plant-biosecurity/pests-and-diseases/fruit-fly