Manage fruit fly using local advice

When to do it

Before susceptible fruit begins to ripen in an affected area.

What you need

• Local fruit-fly guidance
• Suitable exclusion mesh or fruit bags
• Containers for prompt fruit collection

How to do it

1. Check your state or territory’s current fruit-fly advice and restrictions. Queensland fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly are different pests; do not assume one trap or rule applies everywhere.
2. Identify susceptible crops and protect fruit with suitable insect-proof bags or framed netting after required pollination.
3. Collect fallen, damaged and unwanted fruit promptly. Inspect suspect fruit for larvae and keep it contained.
4. For Queensland fruit fly, Agriculture Victoria advises sealing suspect fruit in a plastic bag and freezing for two days until frozen solid before disposal. Follow your own authority’s disposal instructions; do not put untreated infested fruit into ordinary compost.
5. Use monitoring and any bait only as locally advised and labelled. Check movement restrictions before carrying fruit or plants out of the area.

What success looks like

• Fruit is protected early and suspect material cannot breed another generation.

Watch out for

• Treating a lure trap as complete crop protection.
• Transporting suspect fruit to another district.

Related help