News update

Daw Park quarantine extended
The quarantine to combat a fruit fly outbreak at Daw Park has been extended due to the recent trapping of a wild fly.

Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) has extended the quarantine until mid December 2008, which will require residents in Daw Park and surrounding suburbs to not move fruit or fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, capsicums, chillies and eggplants out of the area unless cooked or preserved during this time.

PIRSA would like to thank residents for their on-going co-operation which helps prevent the outbreak spreading. A leaflet is being delivered to households within the quarantine area. A media release provides more information.

About the outbreak
Maps of the quarantine area and suspension zones
Residents survey
Riverland roadblocks
Quarantine - what you should do
More information about fruit fly

About the outbreak

A fruit fly outbreak at Daw Park was declared on Wednesday 30 January 2008 following the detection of Queensland fruit fly larvae in home grown nectarines.

The quarantine zone has been extended to include parts of Panorama, Edwardstown and St Marys. This is in addition to the zone covering the suburbs of Daw Park, Clarence Gardens, Cumberland Park, Westbourne Park, Melrose Park and Colonel Light Gardens.

Back to top

Maps

• Re-baiting area (.PDF 60.2KB)
• Extended quarantine area, 7 February 2008 (.PDF 321.0KB)

For treatment and certification of susceptible fruit:

• 15km suspension zone (.PDF 486.7KB)
• 15km and 80km suspension zone (.PDF 461.9KB)

Back to top

Residents survey

Daw Park residents are invited to complete a Residents Survey, giving their comments about previous awareness of fruit fly and views on PIRSA's response to the outbreak.

Copies of the survey have been distributed throughout the outbreak area. A copy of the Daw Park Fruit Fly Outbreak Residents Survey (.DOC) is also available to download.

Back to top

Fruit fly blitz for travellers on the Riverland Highway

A news release on 3 March warns travellers that random roadblocks will continue to be mounted on the Riverland Highway to help protect the Riverland against fruit fly.

Back to top

Quarantine – what you should do

We need your help to eradicate this fruit fly outbreak quickly. If you live in the quarantine zone, please:

• Do not give away or move any fruit or fruiting vegetables including tomatoes, capsicums, chillies and eggplants. This will help stop the spread of the outbreak.
• 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 report any maggots found in fruit or fruiting vegetables immediately to the Fruit Fly Hotline.
• Do cook or preserve excess fruit and fruiting vegetables.
• Do collect fallen/over-ripe fruit and fruiting vegetables and place in a plastic bag and contact the Fruit Fly Hotline to arrange collection.
• Do place everyday fruit and vegetable scraps in the garbage or waste disposal.

How long will the quarantine last?

The quarantine and eradication program will last for about 12 weeks. This may be extended if additional “wild” flies or infestations are found.

PIRSA will notify householders by leaflet when the quarantine period has ended.

What happens during the eradication program?

Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) began a two-week program of bait spotting when the outbreak was discovered. This involved applying an organic based bait into fruit trees and other suitable foliage to attract and kill adult fruit flies.

On completion of the bait spotting program, PIRSA began the release of one to two million sterile fruit flies into the quarantine zone. Sterile fruit flies will be released each week for up to 10 weeks.

Residents in the quarantine zone have been sent leaflets outlining the program.

Help keep SA Fruit Fly free

Keeping SA fruit fly free protects the State’s $480 million horticultural industry and means we can enjoy the luxury of backyard fruit trees and vegetable gardens that are fruit fly maggot free.

Fruit fly will lay eggs in all fruits and some vegetables. These include: stone fruits (apricots, cherries, peaches, nectarines and plums), loquats, figs, feijoas, tropical fruits (bananas, mangoes etc) and fruiting vegetables including tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, eggplants and tamarillos.

Please check your fruit and fruiting vegetables regularly and if you find maggots contact the Fruit Fly Hotline.

Back to top

More information about fruit fly and what you can do to keep South Australia fruit fly free

Back to top