In the Sunraysia district fruit fly numbers are down this year, compared to same time last year, according to the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area Industry Development Committee. Michael Tempini, the stone fruit grower representative on the committee, said there had been a “fair few” fruit fly outbreaks but overall numbers were down.
The Greater Sunraysia PFA lost its pest-free status in April 2014 when more than 30 fruit fly outbreaks were detected.
“We have been doing a mass trapping program and numbers are particularly down in the townships,” Mr Tempini said.
“We’ve seen an increase in the number of flies per trap per week so the traps are attracting the flies and we’re encouraging everyone to put them out.”
Despite the numbers decreasing Mr Tempini said the fly distribution had spread and there were people seeing damage this year that hadn’t seen damage last year.
The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources said there had been about 30 fruit fly outbreaks in the Greater Sunraysia PFA this year.
“Each new outbreak has been confirmed to be located in an area of the PFA that is currently affected by an existing fruit fly outbreak quarantine zone,” a department spokesman said.
“The department is continuing to work with the Greater Sunraysia PFA Industry Development Committee to guide the role out of pest eradication activities across the PFA region.”
Source - freshplaza.com
