We’re well into the high-risk season for fruit flies, with surveillance activities and trap monitoring underway.

Latest data from Biosecurity New Zealand shows there have been no detections of live exotic fruit flies since the season began (1 September), however in January there was a detection of Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) larvae and dead eggs on lychee from Australia at the New Zealand border.

The shipment had been irradiated as per import rules, and the larvae were non-viable (therefore not able to reproduce or establish in New Zealand) allowing the consignment to be cleared.

Read more in the latest monthly KVH risk update here.

KVH has also developed a helpful guide for growers detailing the likely sequence of events if a fruit fly response were to occur in a kiwifruit growing region. You can download the guide here or contact us if you would like a copy printed and sent to you.