Queensland fruit fly
Bactrocera tryoni

Queensland fruit fly
In May 2012 a single male fruit fly was detected in the suburb of Avondale, Auckland. After rigorous checks by MPI there is no further sign of the Queensland fruit fly and New Zealand’s fruit fly free status is confirmed.
MPI will continue with its routine fruit fly surveillance programme.
Latest Information
- Situation Update 4pm Thursday 24 May 2012
(35 KB) - Situation Update 4pm Wednesday 23 May 2012
(35 KB) - Situation Update 4pm Tuesday 22 May 2012
(37 KB) - Situation Update 4pm Monday 21 May 2012
(36 KB) - Situation Update 4pm Sunday 20 May 2012
(35 KB) - Situation Update 4pm Friday 18 May 2012
(44 KB) - Situation Update 4pm Thursday 17 May 2012
(42 KB) - Situation Update 4pm Wednesday 16 May 2012
(45 KB) - Situation Update 4pm Tuesday 15 May 2012
(24 KB) - Situation Update 4pm Monday 14 May 2012
(25 KB) - Situation Update 12 noon Saturday 12 May 2012
(49 KB) - Situation Update 6.00pm Friday 11 May 2012
(17 KB)
Press Releases
- Controls on fruit and vegetable movements lifted 25 May 2012
- No fruit fly outbreak detected to date as round-the-clock actions continue 13 May 2012
- Controls placed on moving fruit and veges to avoid fruit fly spread 11 May 2012
- Fruit fly find under investigation 10 May 2012
Information on the Auckland Queensland Fruit Fly Operation
- Questions and Answers about the Queensland fruit fly
(38 KB) - Fact sheet about Controlled Area and restrictions on fruit and vegetable movements
(363 KB) - Fact sheet about the Queensland fruit fly
(733 KB)
- Controlled Area Notice
(1288 KB) - Controlled Area map
(238 KB) - Controlled Area map Zone A
(1620 KB) - Description in words of Zone B boundaries
(43 KB) - Description in words of Zone A boundaries
(22 KB)
Translated information
Print Advertising
Controlled Area Fact Sheets
Radio Adverts
Collection Bins in fruit fly controlled area
If you live in the fruit fly controlled area, marked collection bins are in place for disposal of fruit and vegetable scraps and garden waste. Additional bins will be placed in upcoming days. These bins will be emptied regularly and the contents will be deep buried in an approved landfill.
The most up-to-date collection bin placement map can be found below.
For information or advice on disposal please contact 0800 80 99 66.
Information for Exporters
- Information factsheet for exporters
(219 KB) - Insect proofing requirements and generic procedures for potential fruit fly host material transiting the quarantine response zone (QRZ) of Avondale/Mt Roskill in Auckland
(742 KB)
Queensland fruit fly, or Q'fly, is a native of Australia where it is considered to be the country's most serious insect pest of fruit and vegetable crops. The species is found in the eastern areas of Queensland and New South Wales and the extreme east of Victoria. Queensland fruit fly has also dispersed into Pacific countries such as New Caledonia via human activity.
Images for Download
Right click on the link and select 'Save link/target as'
- Queensland Fruit Fly Dorsal (jpg)
- Queensland Fruit Fly Lateral (jpg)
- Image of signage in controlled area (jpg)
Compensation Information
The Biosecurity Act 1993 establishes a compensation scheme to provide incentives for early reporting of risk organisms and fairly compensate people when the Crown destroys their property using legal powers.
To find out more about compensation eligibility please visit the Compensation page.
Background
Fruit flies belong to the family Tephritidae, which includes over 4,500 species, most of which are not pests. Queensland fruit fly is one of the most potent fruit fly pests as it infests more than 100 species of fruit. Hosts include commercial crops such as avocado, citrus, feijoa, grape, peppers, persimmon, pipfruit, and stonefruit..
Eggs are laid beneath the skin of host fruit. These hatch within 2 to 3 days and the larvae feed for a further 10 to 31 days. Pupation occurs in the soil and is dependent on temperature. Adult flight and the transport of infested fruit are the principal means of movement. Infested fruit are well known as a mechanism whereby people can disperse fruit fly to previously uninfected areas. Up to 70 individuals have been reported as developing from a single fruit.
Establishment of Queensland fruit fly would have serious consequences for New Zealand’s horticultural industry.
MPI operates a lure based surveillance trapping system, to both provide early detection of incursions and to provide area freedom assurance for our export horticulture. Traps are located throughout the North and South Islands and are concentrated in populated areas serving as centres for tourism and/or trade, areas of significant horticultural activity and areas specified as being climatically conducive to the establishment of fruit fly. This system involves approximately 7500 traps nationwide.
Import Requirements
Fruit fly is most likely to arrive with plane passengers bringing infested fruit in luggage.
Import health standards contain measures to prevent the introduction of exotic fruit flies into New Zealand. Further information on the mitigation measures for fruit fly on the fresh produce pathway can be found in the following import health standard:
All host material of Queensland fruit fly can only be imported under the terms of a bilateral quarantine arrangement between MPI and the exporting country's national plant protection organisation. These agreements include descriptions of approved pre-export treatment systems and certification requirements.
Page last updated: 31 May 2012



