Fruit flies kept away

We’re still in the high-risk season for unwanted fruit flies and the latest risk update for this pest is now available on the KVH website, showing that since the start of the 2021/22 high-risk season in September there have been no detections of the Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) or any other exotic fruit fly species.

Our closest neighbour, Australia, has eradicated QFF in South Australia and restrictions were removed at the end of December following a 12-month response. There are however some restrictions still in place in Pike River in the state’s east, where wild flies have been detected. Outbreaks of Mediterranean Fruit Fly in Adelaide have been declared eradicated and restrictions removed in more than 170 suburbs after a two-year response.

Fruit fly risk updates produced by KVH each month include data about any detections, explain the range of activities and actions underway by industry and Biosecurity New Zealand to manage the risk these threats pose, and our preparedness in case they get here after affecting other countries.