Trapping Grid

On the 10th of December 2025 Greater Shepparton City Council announced it had secured $469,000 in Victorian Government funding to manage fruit fly across the municipal areas of Greater Shepparton, Moira Shire, Campaspe Shire and Strathbogie Shire Councils. A new Goulburn Murray Valley (GMV) fruit fly trapping grid is currently being installed and is producing limited trapping data. Trap monitoring to date indicates that despite the hot weather conditions experienced in the GMV in December and January, a build-up of Queensland fruit fly populations is currently occurring within the GMV region.

Land use type

Urban trap sites are the main source for higher populations of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly). As urban fruit ripens and drops, it is harvested or is eaten by birds and Qfly will migrate from urban areas into peri-urban sites and then into commercial crops. This is currently occurring in the GMV as evidenced by the high Qfly population pressure in peri-urban trap sites.

Peri-urban crops are now at higher risk of infestation. This means that nearby commercial horticulture is at an elevated risk of future infestation.

Potential Fruit Fly Hot Spots

• Cobram
• Koonoomoo
• Lemnos
• Shepparton
• Mooroopna
• Numurkah
• Strathmerton
• Yarrawonga

Forecast

Hot weather will continue throughout January. Under these conditions a high percentage of adult Qfly find refuge until more favourable conditions return. However, a high proportion of immature stages are killed off by hot, dry weather. Unless controlled by consistent farm and community management the adult Qfly in refuge can then feed in late summer/early autumn causing a Qfly population explosion – which coincides with the bulk of commercial crop ripening.

Be Vigilant

Monitor your traps and produce. Make sure your traps are charged with new lures. Make sure your installed traps aren’t in the direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day.

Check any fruit for sting marks and/or infestation with maggots – even if the fruit is near your property or on a roadside fruiting plant. If there are signs of infestation remove the fruit or the entire plant if you can.