Perth residents put on alert after recent detections of serious agricultural pest Queensland fruit fly

WA’s $1.5 billion horticulture industry is on high alert after the State’s first Qfly detection in two years sparked a rapid response. Several male flies were caught in traps within a two week period at the end of FIt iebruary, triggering the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to set up a quarantine area in parts of Bayswater and Belmont in Perth. It was the most recent detection since flies were found DPIRD’s early detection surveillance traps in Coolbellup in December 2020, with that outbreak deemed eradicated in May 2021 after an intensive DPIRD-run biosecurity campaign. There are more than 1900 permanent traps set up across the Perth metropolitan area and DPIRD has eradicated pest eight times in the past 40 years, most recently in Dalkeith, Claremont and Nedlands in 2020 and Coolbellup in 2021. An extensive DPIRD eradication campaign is now under way, including inspections and baiting with a registered organic control, on street trees and trees on residential and commercial properties. While there have been no Qfly detections in the outer metropolitan horticulture production districts with this recent detection, the Swan Valley has been included in a broader buffer zone requiring growers to follow movement directions for produce. The quarantine area has a small Corrective Action Zone covering a 1.5km radius around the detection point near the intersection of Frinton and Roberts Streets. DPIRD has ruled that home grown fruit and fruiting vegetables, like tomatoes, chillies and capsicums, could not be moved out of or within the Corrective Action Zone, unless cooked, frozen or solarised. Unwanted fruits and fruiting vegetables could be treated by cooking, freezing or solarising before being disposed of in general waste bins. Ripe or ripening fruit and fruiting vegetables from home gardens must be picked regularly and all fallen fruit removed every three days and could not be moved within or outside the zone unless treated. It is important that homegrown fruits and vegetables were not disposed of without prior treatment, as this risks spreading Qfly outside of the current zone. DPIRD was working with Swan Valley growers, providing advice on the movement and treatment of commercial fruit within, out of, and through the quarantine area. DPIRD chief plant biosecurity officer Sonya Broughton said the quarantine area was required for an efficient and effective biosecurity response and called on the community for support. “It’s important we all play our part to aid a swift response and prevent Qfly from further impacting our valuable horticulture industries,” Dr Broughton said. “Working together – industry, government and community – and adhering to the quarantine area directions gives us the best chance of eradicating this pest, which could impact growers’ livelihoods and access to valuable markets.” Qfly are six to eight millimetres long, distinguished by a red-brownish torso with yellow patches, a dark brown abdomen and clear wings. It is considered one of the world’s worst pests, attacking more than 300 fruits, fruiting vegetables and fruiting plants, as well as home gardens. For a map, information on movement, treatment and disposal requirements and to stay up to date with the Qfly biosecurity response visit the DPIRD website agric.wa.gov.au/qflyupdate. Reports of suspected Qfly can be made to DPIRD’s Pest and Disease Information Service on 9368 3080, email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au or via the MyPestGuide Reporter app.