New lures from Israel-based company Biofeed and sterile flies deployed in SA’s $40m fruit fly fight
A new two-pronged assault has been unleashed in the war against Adelaide fruit fly incursions – with “double agents” and a deadly Israeli weapon deployed.
SA News
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Low-flying planes will drop millions of sterile fruit flies each week over Adelaide for the rest of the year and imported traps will be deployed, in a campaign to eradicate outbreaks.
About 4000 of the Biofeed “FreeDome” lures – produced by an Israel-based company – are being placed in backyards during an Australian-first trial that will cost the state government about $200,000.
The lures use a chemical formula to attract, feed and kill the insects.
A series of 18 outbreaks in Adelaide, the Riverland and Port Augusta has cost producers millions of dollars in treatment costs and lost markets for their fruit.
Primary Industries Minister David Basham said entomologists at the South Australian Research and Development Institute were scientifically testing the new lures in a controlled environment.
Meanwhile, up to 20 million sterile flies are also being released weekly.
More than 600 million sterile fruit flies have already been deployed during the eradication program, which began in December 2019 and has so far cost more than $40m.
The government paused the release of the sterile flies during the insects’ overwintering period, but the program restarted this week.
“Sterile male fruit flies seek out female fruit flies in outbreak areas, mating with them so they can’t reproduce, therefore breaking the life cycle,” Mr Basham said.
“We expect fruit flies in the 18 outbreak areas across South Australia to become active again as the weather warms up.
“Overwhelming the wild population with our sterile flies will stop them breeding – and now is the time, before the weather really warms up and the flies become more active.”
More than 400 staff have been baiting and trapping the insects within outbreak areas across the state during the cooler months, and removing fallen fruit.
Horticulture Coalition of SA chairman Angelo Demasi said large investments in work to keep shop-bought fruit free of fruit fly meant people could still buy produce at shops with ease.
“Homegrown fruit poses a threat and we encourage all gardeners to protect South Australia by following the guidelines for an outbreak area,” he said.
The horticultural industry employs about 13,500 permanent staff, and another 24,000 people in seasonal work, and contributes more than $3.4bn in gross food revenue to the state’s economy.
Visit fruitfly.sa.gov.au for more information.
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