QUEENSLAND fruit fly larvae detected in the Loxton and Loxton North outbreak areas mean the red outbreak and yellow suspension area boundaries of all three outbreak areas have been extended.
These detections have not impacted the current end dates of any other Riverland Qfly outbreaks - the fruit fly website carries the most up-to-date information on outbreak end dates.
Fruit fly officers in orange overalls from PIRSA will be applying bait and checking fruit in the newly affected areas, and continuing their work in all other outbreak areas.
Fruit Fly Response general manager Nick Secomb said while it is true fruit fly are less active in cooler months, fruit fly detections do continue through winter and everyone must remain vigilant.
"Unfortunately, most detections triggering the Riverland outbreaks have been in domestic gardens," he said.
"Residents can make a very real difference to eradication success. We need everyone in the Riverland region to clean up their gardens. Prune your trees, pick your winter fruit as soon as it's ripe and collect any rotten or fallen fruit off the ground - do not compost or bury it. Don't move it off your property.
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"We are confident of success, which we achieved last year with eradication of the 12 Adelaide outbreaks, but PIRSA can't do it alone.
"Please give fruit fly officers access to your property so they can do their work quickly and efficiently. Special waste arrangements are in place so check waste advice on the fruit fly website or call the Fruit Fly Hotline."
Riverland Fruit Fly Committee chair and local grower Jason Size said that commercial growers know what to do on their properties to reduce fruit fly risk, and home owners must act too.
"Anyone with fruit trees in their garden has to do the right thing if we're to beat these fruit fly," he said.
"As we enter the dormant months it's time to prune your fruit trees at home, this will make fruit easier to pick next summer to reduce the risk of fruit fly.
"We all want to get back to no restrictions, no expensive chemicals, no maggots in fruit. Please help us get there by following PIRSA's advice to clean up your gardens, and following the rules about fruit movement.
"If you're a grower, call PIRSA's industry hotline on 1800 255 556 for advice on fruit fly restrictions and requirements."
The outbreak end dates are in December 2022, but may change with more detections.
