New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) remains confident it has contained a Queensland fruit fly (Q-Fly) outbreak in Auckland, although it could be months before the pest is officially declared eradicated.
A single male Q-Fly was discovered in the suburb of Grey Lynn in mid-February. Since then, 14 adult flies have been located within a control zone set up around the initial discovery. MPI noted that the last find was almost two months ago, on 6 March, with the last detection of larvae in fruit collected on 13 March.
MPI’s director of response, Veronica Herrera, said insecticide spraying on five directly affected properties had now been completed, however, bait will still need to be applied to attract and kill any flies present.
“We need some months yet to be quite sure this population has been eradicated,” Herrera explained. “We believe that we will be working in the area until at least the end of November and we will need the community’s support for the long haul.”
