Queensland fruit fly

Bactrocera tryoni

Queensland fruit fly

Queensland fruit fly

Legal Status: Notifiable Organism
Status in New Zealand: Not in New Zealand
Organism: Insects, worms and other land invertebrates

Pest and disease search

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

Press Releases

Information on the Auckland Queensland Fruit Fly Operation

Translated information

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Controlled Area Fact Sheets

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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

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.

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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