Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) remains a serious threat to the region despite the end of the
season approaching for many of the host fruit and vegetables grown in the Goulburn Murray
Valley.

Goulburn Murray Valley Regional QFF Coordinator Ross Abberfield said particular attention should be given to feijoas, apples, ripe oranges, plums and late peaches.

Mr Abberfield reminded keen gardeners, property owners, farmers and commercial growers of the combined community effort required to reduce the spread of QFF and protect the region’s horticultural industry.

“Continued diligence with QFF control is essential as weather conditions start to improve for fruit fly, with cooler days and relatively warm nights, throughout late March and April,” he said.

The conditions will be especially favourable for QFF with an excess of ripe fruits available as
the end of the season approaches for many fruits and vegetables.

“It is extremely important to reduce the number of QFF able to lay their eggs into fruit at this
time, as it is the offspring of these flies that will survive over winter and cause problems to
the community and the commercial grower next season,” Mr Abberfield said.

“If we can tackle fruit fly now by taking extra care to pick up and destroy fallen fruit and
harvesting any fruit that’s still on the tree and processing, eating or destroying it, we can
significantly reduce the threat throughout autumn,” he said.

QFF adults are still being trapped in urban areas within the region with fruit fly populations present as a mixture of adults, eggs, larvae and pupae.

Potential breeding grounds exist in home gardens, orchards, untended properties,
roadsides, channel banks and bushland with gardeners, farmers and commercial growers
asked to continue to implement control measures.

Any fruit and vegetable that has been infested with fruit fly should be destroyed by placing it
in the freezer or microwave, or alternatively by placing it in a sealed plastic bag and leaving it
in the sun for 5-7 days to kill any maggots prior to disposal.

Fruit and vegetables effected by fruit fly should only be disposed of once it has been appropriately treated in order to ensure the pest is not transferred to another location.

For more information about what you can do to help reduce the spread of QFF pick up an information pack from you local Council’s Customer Service Centre or
go to www.gmv-qldfruitfly.com.au