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You are here: Agriculture » Pests, Diseases and Weeds » Pest Insects and Mites » Queensland Fruit Fly » Information for Industry

Information for Industry

Surveillance and control

Caption: QFF surveillance trap

Adult fruit fly activity can be monitored by using traps containing synthetic attractants. The most commonly used attractant or lure is Cuelure, which attracts and kills only male Queensland fruit flies (QFF). Traps are placed in the shade of the canopy of host trees and the contents checked on a weekly basis during the fruit fly season and then fortnightly during the winter months.

If enough flies are detected an outbreak is declared. Once this occurs, the boundaries of the outbreak zone are defined. Other suspension areas are declared for the movement of host product out of these areas to markets in Victoria and interstate.

Suppression

Suppression activities involve assisting industry with compliance matters and ensuring market access for growers is maintained, advising residents of QFF prevention and control measures, educating the public and advising people not to travel with fruit.

Eradication

Eradication activities following an outbreak can be directed at either the eggs and larvae in the fruit or at the adults. They include the destruction of infested fruit and removal of wild or neglected fruit trees.

Control measures also include cover sprays and bait sprays. Cover sprays (systemic insecticides that will also kill immature stages present in fruit) are not generally used for the control of QFF in an outbreak situation. Bait sprays, which are comprised of a mixture of protein, water and an insecticide, can be 'spot' sprayed into various sites in an orchard.

Click here to see an example of a DPI Resident Notification

If the outbreak is in an urban area, trees on private properties may be ‘spot’ sprayed with bait to control the population of adult flies. In some situations, an integrated bait and sterile insect technique (SIT) program can be used as an alternative to baiting only. SIT involves releasing large numbers of sterile QFF into the outbreak area to outnumber the pest (or 'wild') flies, which minimises fertile matings and reduces the population of wild flies.

See more information about sterile fruit fly releases.

Reinstatements

When no fruit flies have been trapped within an outbreak zone for a prescribed period, the outbreak is considered to be eradicated and the zone can be reinstated as being free of fruit fly. The length of the prescribed period varies according to the time of year when the last fly was caught and how this relates to the speed of the fruit fly's life cycle.

Prevention

Quarantine measures such as inspection of fruit and vegetables entering or leaving areas, assist in preventing the further spread of fruit flies. There are also fruit disinfestation methods such as cold or hot temperature treatments which can be used to allow the sale of fruit outside the outbreak area.

The general public (including residents and travellers) has an important role in preventing the spread of QFF; See Information for residents and Information for travellers.