NEARLY 15,000 new fruit fly traps will be placed in backyards in outbreak areas across the state as part of SA's battle against the pest, essentially tripling the number in action in SA.
They are joining 3200 extra monitoring traps deployed since December 2019.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said hanging more traps across backyards was designed to up the ante in SA's fight against fruit fly with an additional investment of $33.3 million in the State Budget 2021-22.
"When it comes to eradicating fruit fly from SA, the SA government is not taking a backward step," he said.
"We are on the front line, hand in hand with farmers as we fight this devastating pest.
"Our additional $33.3m commitment to eradicate Qld and Mediterranean fruit fly is about protecting tens of thousands of jobs and hundreds of businesses in our horticulture industries that are at risk if this pest becomes endemic."
Mr Basham said the trapping network in outbreak areas was an important defence against fruit fly and by deploying thousands of additional Cera traps across the state they were beefing up SA's ability to fight back.
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"The new Cera traps are a reliable, globally used tool and to have 14,700 rolled out across SA in the coming weeks will be a significant boost," he said.
"This is on top of other measures we are taking such as sterile fruit fly releases as well more than 450 staff on the ground undertaking baiting and fruit stripping operations across the outbreak areas.
"Fruit flies are less active in the colder months which is why we are stepping up our efforts during this period to eradicate the pest from SA."
There are currently 12 Med-fly outbreaks and six Q-fly outbreaks across the state.
"I thank South Australians for their cooperation so far but we have to remain vigilant and follow the rules so we can get on top of these outbreaks," Mr Basham said.
Residents are urged to check fruitfly.sa.gov.au to see if they are within the red outbreak areas or yellow suspension areas where fruit movement restrictions apply. People are urged to check fruit for fruit fly larvae and report anything unusual to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
"Residents in outbreak areas should make sure fruit does not leave their property, and also clean up all over-ripe or fallen fruit and place in your kerbside green bin - do not compost or bury," Mr Basham said.
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