While the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says testing on samples from fruit fly traps has shown no sign of further fruit flies, it remains vigilant.A large field effort continues to ensure that if any of these insects are present, they will not spread from the Avondale area in Auckland, where the one male fly was found last week.
The Queensland fruit fly has the potential to seriously damage New Zealand's horticultural crops.
MPI deputy director general, Andrew Coleman, says community support for control measures on whole, fresh fruit and vegetables has been fantastic.
There are two key things Mr Coleman asks:
- That people in the area MPI has established as a control zone don't move fresh fruit or vegetables outside this area's boundaries
- That they dispose of fruit and vegetable waste in the bins provided… and not in normal rubbish collections
He says the control measures are likely to be in place for up to a fortnight.
“People living in the Controlled Area do not need to go searching for fruit flies. These insects are very difficult to identify by eye alone and people need to trust in the traps.
“The traps that we have set are internationally recognised as the best way to locate any breeding population present, and if one is there, we will find it.”
Click here for more information about the Queensland fruit fly.
