Maggot filled peaches triggers fruit fly outbreak alert in Adelaide eastern suburb Glynde

One of the world’s most destructive pests has been detected in an Adelaide eastern suburbs area and strict quarantine restrictions have been introduced. See the areas affected and what the restrictions mean.

A Queensland fruit fly outbreak centred on Glynde has triggered quarantine restrictions which include households keeping homegrown fruit and vegetables on their properties.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) is urging residents in the affected area to follow quarantine requirements, listed at fruitfly.sa.gov.au/outbreak-restrictions/red-area.

The outbreak was declared after maggots were found in homegrown peaches by a Glynde resident who notified PIRSA.

Glynde and surrounding suburbs are affected by the restrictions, in a band stretching from Felixstow in the north to Trinity Gardens and St Morris in the south, and from Marden, Royston Park and Evandale in the west to Hectorville and Tranmere in the east.

Fruit fly restriction red zone.

See the outbreak map at fruitfly.sa.gov.au/outbreak-map.

Fruit fly red restriction yellow zones.

PIRSA staff, identifiable by their orange overalls, will visit households to apply an organic bait to foliage and check fruit for signs of fruit fly, including maggots.

PIRSA acting director of Biosecurity Operations, Con Poulos, said anyone moving fruit can spread this pest, so it is critical people in the 1.5km red outbreak zone or 15km yellow outbreak zone follow all restrictions.

“I’m confident in our proven control methods for successful eradication, but it is vital the community in the affected area does not move any fresh fruit or fruiting vegetables from their properties,” Mr Poulos said.

“This includes immediately stopping all instances of giving homegrown produce away to family, neighbours, and selling or giving it away online.

“A reminder to families and students returning to school next week, fruit and vegetables purchased from supermarkets are not impacted and can still be transported to schools in lunch boxes.”

“However, fruit in your garden are perfect hosts for fruit fly to lay their eggs in and must not be moved from your property if you are in the outbreak area. Now is the time to check any fruit on your trees – including stone fruit – for bruising or maggots.”

He urged people in the affected area to pick up fallen fruit off the ground or ripe fruit from their trees and put it in the green bin to break the fruit fly life cycle.

PIRSA teams will be applying organic bait and checking fruit in the Glynde outbreak area, with a view to extending the Sterile Insect Technique program to the area.

“We have a strong success rate of eradicating fruit fly and we want to keep it that way, but we need residents to follow our advice and help us by giving easy access to their yards,” Mr Poulos said.

If no further wild flies or larvae are detected, PIRSA anticipates the quarantine will be lifted later this year. The public can report anything unusual to the Fruit Fly Hotline [phone].

Originally published as Maggot filled peaches triggers fruit fly outbreak alert in Adelaide eastern suburb Glynde