Fruit fly outbreak declared at South Brighton

Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) declared a fruit fly outbreak at South Brighton.

The outbreak was confirmed following detection of Mediterranean fruit fly larvae in home grown peaches at a property in South Brighton. A 1.5 kilometre quarantine area has been declared around the detection site.

Suburbs affected include South Brighton, Seacliff Park, Seacombe Gardens, Seacombe Heights, Seaview Downs, Seacliff, Brighton, Dover Gardens and Warradale.

PIRSA Biosecurity’s Manager Compliance and Surveillance, Bruce Baker, says it’s important that all people in this area do not remove fresh fruit, fruiting vegetables or garden waste from their properties during the eradication program.

“It is important no fresh fruit, fruiting vegetables or garden waste is removed from properties until the eradication program is completed,” he said.

“Home grown fruit and fruiting vegetables can only be removed from the quarantine area if they have been cooked or processed. This includes tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, eggplant, stone fruits, pomefruits, citrus, loquats and table grapes. These are potential hosts for the pest and the movement of fruit and vegetables during the quarantine period could start new outbreaks.

“PIRSA has maintained a strong community awareness program around fruit fly and I’d like to praise the householder who rang the Fruit Fly Hotline and reported the larvae. This early detection means we can act quickly and minimise the impact on the state.”

Mr Baker says a two-week program of organic bait spotting will be followed by the release of sterile fruit flies into the area.

“Residents and businesses within the quarantine area are being notified about the outbreak through a leaflet distribution and media advertisements,” Mr Baker said.

“The quarantine will be enforced until the completion of the eradication program which is anticipated to take about 12 weeks.

“If fruit fly becomes established in South Australia, this could jeopardise markets for our $480 million fresh fruit and vegetable industry.”

Householders and property owners in the quarantine zone are asked to provide PIRSA’s fruit fly eradication teams with access to their properties, to check their backyard fruit and vegetables. Any maggots found in fruit or vegetables can be reported to the 24-hour Fruit Fly Hotline