Biosecurity New Zealand has announced the discovery of another single male Queensland fruit fly in a controlled area in Northcote, Auckland.
This is the tenth fruit fly found in New Zealand in 2019 and the third found in Northcote since a controlled area was put in place on 25 April to restrict the s the movement of certain fruit and vegetables.
'It is continued vigilance that led to the discovery of another single male fruit fly on 15 July in a trap in the current controlled area, 350mfrom where the last was found on 31 May,' said Catherine Duthie, spokesperson for Biosecurity New Zealand.
'We cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal. We have found 10 of these flies in the Northcote area since February, and while we still haven’t found any evidence of larvae, pupae, eggs or female flies, the continued finds indicate that Queensland fruit flies remain in the area, albeit at very low levels.'
An established population of fruit flies could pose a significant threat to New Zealand’s fresh produce industry as 80 per cent of the country’s horticultural crops as susceptible to attack by the Queensland fruit fly.
'Once we start heading out of winter, we will be looking at stepping up again, with the focus on maintaining controls and continuing with baiting and more intensive trapping,' said Duthie.
'Biosecurity New Zealand understands that this response is a significant inconvenience for those living and working in the controlled area and we are so grateful for continued support over the many months these restrictions have been in place.'
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