October 2020
A new fruit fly outbreak was declared last month in
Klemzig after several Mediterranean fruit flies were
found in traps by PIRSA staff as part of their
surveillance activities.
Affected suburbs include Greenacres, Hampstead Gardens,
Klemzig, Hillcrest, Manningham, Marden, Vale Park and
Windsor Gardens.
Executive Director of Biosecurity Nathan Rhodes said
this outbreak represented a relatively thin strip of
land between the two existing outbreak areas in Blair
Athol and Campbelltown.
"With the seven other outbreaks across Adelaide in
Campbelltown, Pooraka, Semaphore Park, Rosewater, Angle
Park, Croydon Park and Blair Athol, we have been mindful
that the eradication effort is not yet over and it’s
possible that a small number of flies will overwinter
(similar to hibernation) during this response and emerge
as the weather warms" he said.
"Citrus is the main fruit fly susceptible fruit in
gardens at the moment, so now is the time to check any
fruit on your trees - including oranges, mandarins,
lemons and limes - for bruising or maggots, and report
anything unusual to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666
010.
"It’s also a good time to make sure your garden is tidy,
picking up any fallen fruit off the ground and removing
any unwanted fruit from your trees and placing it in
your green bin, to help break the fruit fly life cycle.
"It is critical that residents follow our advice and do
not move any fresh fruit or fruiting vegetables from
their properties - including giving it away to family,
neighbours and selling it online, as moving fruit can
potentially spread this pest."
He said PIRSA teams were applying organic bait and
checking fruit in the Klemzig outbreak area with a view
to include the area in the Sterile Insect Technique
program, starting in September.
"The SIT program will see up to 12 million sterile flies
released per week into the outbreak areas and a
surrounding buffer to combat any wild flies that might
remain in those suburbs," he said.
"We have a 100 per cent success rate of eradicating
fruit fly and we want to keep it that way, but we need
residents to follow our advice and help us by giving
easy access to their yards."
If no further wild flies or larvae are detected it is
anticipated the quarantine in Klemzig will be lifted on
December 23.