Citrus, stone fruit and table grape growers in the Australian region of Sunraysia are being asked to take a role in eradicating Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) from the region in an attempt to regain the region’s Pest Free Area status.

This is an innovative approach that involves growers deploying traps to monitor QFF presence/ absence and population numbers. These traps are separate from the official trapping system and serve as an indicator for when growers should apply management practices such as insecticide application, baiting and cover spray.

Sunraysia is an important horticultural region in Australia renowned for the production of high value crops. Invasive pressure from the QFF has resulted in the suspension of Sunraysia’s Pest Free Area status for QFF, meaning additional controls are now required for produce exported from this region.

Matt Dyck, KVH Biosecurity