PIRSA have declared two new Queensland fruit fly outbreaks in Waikerie and Paringa, after maggots were detected in backyard fruit.
Staff will inspect properties in the new 1.5 kilometre 'red' outbreak areas, while restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables at risk have been put in place.
The new red outbreak areas take in the localities of Mundic Creek, Murtho, Paringa, Wonuarra, and Waikerie.
Fruit Fly Response general manager Nick Secomb urged residents and growers to support PIRSA's eradication program and follow their advice.
"Teams in orange overalls are contacting residents with information about what to do now they are in a 'red' outbreak area, and will be regularly applying bait to suitable foliage in properties as well as checking fruit for signs of fruit fly," Mr Secomb said.
"Search your address on the map on the fruit fly website to check if you're in a red outbreak or yellow suspension area and how the movement restrictions affect you."
If you are in a red outbreak area, please keep your fruit and vegetables on your property and don't share, sell or give them away.
Residents are advised to familiarise with the restricted fruit and vegetable movements in the red, yellow and green areas on the map and call the Fruit Fly Hotline for advice.
Mr Secomb urged Riverland people to be extra vigilant this month as we hit the peak time for detections and clean up backyards and orchards to prevent opportunities for fruit fly to breed.
"Growers know what they need to do to prevent fruit fly and are looking after their properties, however the latest detections have been mostly in non-commercial trees, so please clean up your home yard and play your part to prevent future outbreaks," he said.
April is historically the most prevalent time for fruit fly and maggot detections, so residents and orchard growers need to be extra vigilant now and make sure no ripe fruit is left on trees or rotting on the ground.
A lot of preventative work is being done in the Riverland by PIRSA, including surveillance, baiting, trapping and Sterile Insect Technology release, and growers are protecting their crops, so fruit flies will start to look for alternative fruit to lay their eggs in and this means backyards can become a target.
Riverland residents are being urged to clean up backyard fruit and prevent fruit fly destroying crops in the region.
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