The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has praised community efforts to successfully eradicate the fruit pest Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) from Como.
The combined efforts from the City of South Perth and Town of Victoria Park, industry, businesses, community groups and local residents has had a positive outcome for the outbreak of Qfly (Bactrocera tryoni) discovered in May this year.
Department plant biosecurity manager Dr Darryl Hardie said an eradication campaign led by the department in co-operation with local government and the community had been successful. Restrictions on the movement of non-commercial and home-grown fruit grown in the area have now been lifted.
The department response program included extensive surveillance, trapping and bait spraying of host material such as fruit trees with an organic bait. Department staff visited about 600 properties during the campaign.
Home gardeners need to use a multi- pronged attack for all fruit fly using pheromone-based traps, baits, exclusion bags and hygiene. Never leave fruit on the ground, either microwave it or wrap it in a tightly sealed plastic bag left out in the sun for 5-7 days or leave in the freezer for the same amount of time.
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It is important to set traps to monitor the number of fruit flies and type. For organic solutions look at greenharvest.com.au for baits and solutions. Another excellent source of information is on the department’s Agriculture and Food website agric.wa.gov/plant-biosecruity/ queensland-fruit-fly
The WA community is becoming increasingly good at surveillance and reporting unknown pests and diseases via the MyPestGuideTM app. This enables the home gardener to become more educated about life cycles of insects and gives them a better idea of the most appropriate control measures.
Early detection of serious threats enables the department to act quickly and ensure there is no further spread. Pests or plant damage of concern can be reported via the MyPestGuideTM Reporter app or online — available from mypestguide.agric.wa.gov.au.
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