Travelling with fruit
All visitors to the Goulburn Murray Valley (GMV) coming from fruit fly infested areas of Victoria and other parts of Australia should take care, when bringing fruit into the region.
Care should be taken, whether the fruit comes from the visitor’s home region or are purchased on the way, that their fruit is not infested with Queensland fruit fly (Qfly). In some areas, such as the Riverland in South Australia and the whole of Tasmania and Western Australia, it is illegal to bring fruit into these areas.
These restrictions are legislated as fruit fly Pest Free Areas and heavy fines are imposed if restrictions are broken in these states.
While the GMV does not have these restrictions, any fruit that is infested with Qfly, whether it is locally grown fruit or fruit brought in from other areas, is a risk.
Check fruit and vegetables
Extra vigilance is required during summer fruit fly peaks and care should be taken to inspect fruit and vegetables from the garden. Regular visual inspection of fruit and vegetables grown in the home garden or vegetable patch is recommended.
Care should also be taken to inspect fruit and vegetables from markets and pop up stalls. Warmer than normal temperatures plus extra rainfall means there will be more fruit and more fruit flies this coming season, so extra vigilance is required.
Urban fruit fly hot spots
The below locations have been identified through trapping data as hot spots to monitor.
- Numurkah
- Barooga
- Katamatite
- Euroa
- Rochester
- Nagambie
- Congupna
- Shepparton
- Berrigan
- Tatura
- Mooroopna
- Kyabram
- Finley
Advice to home gardeners
The vast majority of the Qfly trapped from late August to mid-November were found in urban locations. It is important that home gardeners are aware that urban fruit flies, if not controlled sufficiently, will expand over the next two generations and spread into commercial orchards in late summer/autumn.
The efforts of home gardeners to control Qfly now will be of immense use to commercial growers and the entire community in autumn 2021. Home garden producers can also enjoy the benefits of fewer Qfly destroying their produce in addition to assisting their commercial neighbours, if adequate community- wide monitoring and protection occurs
