By Aaron Cordy
BATTLING the scourge that is Queensland fruit fly, requires continued action from home gardeners, property owners, commercial growers and the broader community. The Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program brings together community, industry and government to apply a coordinated approach to the control of fruit fly.
Program’s Coordinator Ross Abberfield said we all have a role to play in the control of fruit fly, with community awareness and increased education being critical in protecting the region against the pest.
“One mated female fruit fly can lay nearly 2000 eggs from which up to 800 adult flies can emerge and 4-6 weeks after these eggs have been laid, they mature and go on to reproduce another generation of fruit flies and another and another,” he said.
Fruit trees that are unmanaged or no longer wanted should be removed and replaced with non-fruiting options to reduce the number of potential breeding grounds.
Fruit fly can spread extremely quickly so control strategies to reduce the impact and early action once fruit fly is detected is a must.
For more information on fruit fly control and management, visit www.fruitflycontrol.com.au
