Biosecurity Tasmania is undertaking control and surveillance operations following the detection of Queensland fruit fly larvae in Tasmania. Operations are being undertaken at three sites on Flinders Island and one site near Spreyton.
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Why is fruit fly a concern?
Fruit fly can have major impacts on the production of fruit and vegetables from backyards to major producers. As well as ruining produce, its presence adds costs to production to reduce its impact.
Additionally, freedom from Queensland fruit fly provides access to premium produce markets in Japan, Korea, USA, Taiwan and China. It is estimated that Tasmania’s fruit fly free status adds tens of millions of dollars a year to the export income earned by Tasmania’s horticultural industries.
What should I know if I am in a control area?
As part of reducing the risk of the further movement of fruit fly and protecting markets for growers outside the affected area, a 15-kilometre control area has been declared around the detection sites.
This means that fruit and vegetables susceptible to fruit fly cannot be moved outside of these areas without authorisation from Biosecurity Tasmania.
If you grow fruit and vegetables in your backyard, you should not sell or give it to people while these restrictions are in place. This is to reduce the risk of it being transported outside the control area.
Fruit and vegetables grown in the control area cannot be sold at roadside stalls or at markets either within or outside the control area. This is to reduce the risk of it being accidentally transported outside the control area.
Biosecurity Tasmania has been working with supermarkets within the control area to ensure appropriate measures are in place for their produce. Fruit and vegetables purchased from major supermarkets can be taken to your home for consumption.
However it should not be moved from your home to outside of the control area.
What to look for
Wherever you live you should always be vigilant for signs of fruit fly or their larvae.
A mature fruit fly is around 7 millimetres long and is reddish brown with some yellow markings. Fruit fly larvae look like blowfly maggots.
Mature larvae are 8-11 millimetres in length and approximately 1.5 millimetres in width. They are usually easy to see in the flesh of the fruit. You are more likely to see fruit fly grubs or maggots than actual flies.
Fruit and vegetables susceptible to fruit fly
Fruit and vegetables commonly grown in Tasmanian gardens are susceptible to fruit fly attack. They include apples, apricots, blackberries, capsicums, cherries, figs, grapefruit, mulberries, nashis, nectarines, oranges, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, strawberries and tomatoes. Minor hosts include lemons, limes, quinces, pumpkins and walnuts.
How to report and what to do if you suspect fruit fly
If you think you may have fruit infested with fruit fly, please call Biosecurity Tasmania on 6165 3774. Our officers will talk to you about what to do next. If possible, take a photo of the fruit showing the larvae or flies and secure the fruit in a resealable plastic bag or container so larvae or flies cannot escape.
Visit www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fruitfly for information.