Queensland fruit fly situation update from MPI

Situation Update 1 - Whangarei Queensland fruit fly

• A single male Queensland fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap in the Parihaka area of Whangarei on Tuesday 1 April and formally identified on Wednesday.

• The Queensland fruit fly is a significant pest that could have serious consequences for our horticultural industries and home gardens.

• MPI is undertaking an urgent response to ascertain if the fly is a solitary find or if there is a breeding population in the area.

• The Ministry has put in place legal restrictions on the movement of fruit and some vegetables out of a defined Controlled Area. This area was legally established at 12.30pm on Thursday 3 April and sets out a circular zone extending 1.5km from the location of the fly find. The Area has a central Zone A which extends 200m from the find and Zone B extends out to the 1500m.

• The Controlled Area takes in areas of Parihaka, Riverside and central Whangarei.

• Whole fruit and vegetables (except for leafy and root vegetables) cannot be moved out of the Controlled Area, although fruit and veges can be carried into the Area.

• The restrictions are an important precaution while MPI investigates whether any further flies are present. If there are undetected flies out there, the measures will help prevent their spread out of the area.

• Full information about the Controlled Area and the restrictions, including maps and full instructions is at: www.mpi.govt.nz – follow the fruit fly button.

• Field work is building in Whangarei today with approximately 70 personnel at work (from MPI and operations service provider AsureQuality).
• These people are setting an extensive surveillance trapping network to lure any fruit flies that may be present. They are also inspecting gardens and rubbish bins in the affected area for any signs of fruit flies; putting up signs to mark the Controlled Area and providing information to the public, schools, shops in the area etc.

• New surveillance traps will be established in Zone A by the end of today, with first results from them expected late on Saturday after the traps have had 24 hours in the field. Traps are also going into Zone B. Currently there are 35 traps in Zone A and 12 in Zone B.

• Rubbish bins have been provided to 164 properties within the wider Controlled Area to enable residents to dispose of any fruit or vegetables or produce waste. MPI will collect these and safely dispose of the material. Bin placement is continuing and MPI will provide a map of bin locations once these are in place.

• Field laboratory facilities will be fully operational later today to examine fruit and vegetable samples collected from within the affected area and to identify any suspect insects collected.

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