Biosecurity SA declared an outbreak of Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly) in Brooklyn Park following a larval detection in the area, which was confirmed on Wednesday 14 February 2018. A 1.5km outbreak area has been established around the detection point and quarantine restrictions apply.

Affected suburbs include Brooklyn Park, Flinders Park, Fulham, Fulham Gardens, Kidman Park, Lockleys, Underdale and West Richmond.

Chief Plant Health Officer at Biosecurity SA, Geoff Raven said staff have commenced an eradication program aimed at eliminating any fruit flies from the outbreak area and nearby surrounds.

“Residents and businesses within the outbreak area will be receiving information from Biosecurity SA about the outbreak and associated quarantine, detailing what part they can play in preventing its spread,” he said.

“An organic bait spotting program will be undertaken with staff also concentrating on the removal of fallen fruit from properties within the affected 200m outbreak zone area.

“Queensland fruit fly doesn’t exist in South Australia and can only be brought into our state from infested fruit originating from the eastern states.

“This outbreak is separate from the other Q-fly outbreaks already declared in West Hindmarsh and Woodville Gardens and the Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak at Kilburn.

This has no impact on our fruit fly free status for the rest of the state and we are liaising with the horticultural industry on the outbreak and our eradication campaign.

Mr Raven said residents and businesses inside the quarantine area could help eliminate fruit fly by practising a few simple measures, including:

• DO NOT give away or move any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including tomatoes, capsicums, chillies and eggplants unless cooked or preserved
• DO NOT leave fruit or fruiting vegetables lying on the ground
• DO NOT compost any fruit or fruiting vegetables, including those purchased from a shop
• DO place all unwanted fruit and vegetables in your green bin for normal collection
• DO report any maggots found in fruit or fruiting vegetables immediately to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010
• DO cook or preserve excess fruit and fruiting vegetables.

At this stage, if no further wild flies or larvae are detected it is anticipated that the quarantine in Brooklyn Park will remain in place until at least 5 May 2018.

For more information, including detailed maps of outbreak areas, the quarantine zone and Suspension Area are available from www.pir.sa.gov.au/fruitfly

Follow Biosecurity SA on Twitter @SA_PIRSA

View a list of fruit and fruiting vegetables that host fruit fly (External link, Biosecurity SA)

Acknowledgement: Reproduced from an alert distributed by Biosecurity SA