The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is releasing 100 million sterile fruit flies across Adelaide’s suburbs in an all-out assault against eight current metropolitan fruit fly outbreaks.
Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) flies are being released in the outbreak areas at Blair Athol, Croydon Park, Angle Park, Rosewater, Semaphore Park, Pooraka, Campbelltown and Klemzig, and surrounding areas.
Previous management strategies had been undertaken across the quarantined suburbs, including the clean up of ripe fruit and application of organic bait, to reduce the wild fruit fly population.
The SIT technology aims to wipe out any remaining wild flies in the outbreak areas. Once released, the SIT flies mate with any remaining wild flies and overwhelm the wild fly population.
If this activity is successful and no further wild flies are detected, quarantine restrictions will be lifted between mid-December and mid-January, depending on the area.
If you notice anything unusual in your fruit, seal it in an airtight container and call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
Read more about sterile insect technology here.
Read the full PIRSA news article here.
For more information on the current fruit fly outbreaks, visit the PIRSA website.