Biosecurity SA has declared an outbreak of Mediterranean fruit fly (Med-fly) in the township of Thevenard on the state’s west coast, following the detection of fruit fly larvae in the area on 11 May 2018.
A 1.5 km outbreak area has been established around the detection point and quarantine restrictions apply.
Executive Director Biosecurity SA Will Zacharin said staff have commenced an eradication program aimed at eliminating any fruit flies from the outbreak area and nearby surrounds.
“Residents and businesses within the outbreak area will be receiving information from Biosecurity SA about the outbreak and associated quarantine, detailing what part they can play in preventing its spread,” he said.
“An organic bait spotting program will be undertaken with staff also concentrating on the removal of fallen fruit from properties within the affected 200m outbreak zone area.
“Mediterranean fruit fly doesn’t exist in South Australia and can only be brought into our state from infested fruit originating from Western Australia.
“This has no impact on our fruit fly free status for the rest of the state and we are liaising with the horticultural industry on the outbreak and our eradication campaign.”
Residents and businesses inside the quarantine area can help eliminate fruit fly by practising a few simple measures, including:
- DO NOT give away or move any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including tomatoes, capsicums, chillies and eggplants unless cooked or preserved
- DO NOT leave fruit or fruiting vegetables lying on the ground
- DO NOT compost any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including those purchased from a shop
- DO place all unwanted fruit and vegetables in your green bin for normal collection
- DO report any maggots found in fruit or fruiting vegetables immediately to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010
- DO cook or preserve excess fruit and fruiting vegetables.
At this stage, if no further wild flies or larvae are detected it is anticipated that the quarantine in Thevenard will remain in place until at least 15 November 2018.
For more information, including detailed maps of outbreak areas, the quarantine zone and suspension area are available from www.pir.sa.gov.au/fruitfly.
Acknowledgement: Reproduced from an alert by Primary Industries and Regions South Australia