As one of the world’s most destructive horticultural pests, fruit flies pose a major risk to Australia’s multi-billion-dollar fruit and vegetable industry.

Over the past decade, the spread of the Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) into southern New South Wales and Victoria has meant areas that were previously fruit fly free are now managing fruit flies for the first time.

In response to this growing pressure, and the deregistration of agricultural chemicals previously used for fruit fly control, we have developed the National Fruit Fly Strategy.

In the current environment, managing fruit fly is a year-round effort. No single action will stop the spread of fruit fly—an integrated management approach is required.

The effects of fruit fly can be devastating if left unmanaged.

A fruit fly outbreak will not only negatively affect your business and damage your crops, but the impact on Australia’s capacity to trade competitively in international markets will be impacted too.

The three most important factors in controlling fruit flies in commercial settings are:

  • minimising damage
  • considering economically viable control options
  • integrating management practices for other pests, and maintaining pathways to trade, whether local, domestic, or international.

Industry specific fruit fly management

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) – a tool to benefit Australian horticulture