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You are here: Agriculture » Pests, Diseases and Weeds » Pest Insects and Mites » Queensland Fruit Fly » About Queensland Fruit Flies

About fruit flies

Only two species of economically important fruit flies occur in Australia. One of these is Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) which permanently inhabits the growing areas of Western Australia. The other is Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) (or QFF), which permanently inhabits parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and the eastern corner of Victoria. QFF is the primary fruit fly of concern in Victoria.

Impact of Queensland fruit fly

QFF is one of the world's worst horticultural pests. It attacks a wide range of host plants, lowering production and making fruit inedible, with severe consequences for local and international trade.

See Host list for Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly

The threat of QFF is so serious that a number of QFF management zones have been established in Victoria and other states to minimise its impact.

See Information for travellers and the map of QFF management zones.

Life cycle of Queensland fruit fly

As with most insects, there are four stages in the life cycle:

1. Egg - Eggs are white in colour and banana-shaped. They are unlikely to be seen by householders.
2. Larva (maggot) - Soon after the eggs have been laid, a small maggot emerges from each. Maggots have cutting jaws which help to tear the fruit into pieces small enough to swallow. Maggots tend to eat towards the centre of the fruit. This also promotes rotting of the fruit, although it may appear to be in good condition from the outside. When the maggot has completed growing, it chews its way out of the fruit, which by then has usually fallen to the ground, and burrows into the soil.
3. Pupa - In the soil, larvae become inactive and change into oval, brown, hard pupae, in which adult flies develop.
4. Adult (fly) - After hatching, adult flies find a food source. After feeding, the flies mate and each female then searches for ripening fruit which she punctures and lays her eggs in. The punctures are very small and can usually only be recognised by an experienced person.

1. Abdomen and eggs of QFF	2. Peach infested with QFF larvae	3. QFF pupae	4. QFF female preparing to lay eggs

External information

To find out more about QFF, visit:

• Pest Free Area for a Greater Sunraysia
• NSW Department of Industry & Investment
• Primary Industries and Resources South Australia
• Tristate Fruit Fly Program
• National Fruit Fly Strategy
• Fruit fly and the home garden