No fruit flies found in a month

NZME.
14 Queensland fruit flies have been found since February 16.
14 Queensland fruit flies have been found since February 16.

Fruit flies have not been found in Grey Lynn for more than a month, but checks for the pest will need to continue until at least the end of November.

Fourteen adult Queensland fruit flies have been located since the first male was trapped in mid-February, the last on March 6, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said.

The last detection of larvae in fruit from the affected area was on March 13.

MPI director of response Veronica Herrera said it would take some months to be sure the population was eradicated.

"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," Dr Herrera said.

The use of insecticide spray to treat five affected properties has finished, but MPI will still need to bait traps to attract and kill any remaining flies.

Fruit flies go to ground over winter, so baiting will stop in early June, but will resume in the spring.

Traps will stay in place over winter but will be checked less often.

Mr Herrera said MPI was appreciative of the support of residents who have had daily visits from field staff over the past six weeks.

"We are also hugely grateful to the wider community in the controlled area who are having fruiting trees in their gardens baited and are having to comply with the restrictions on moving fruit and vegetables.

"It takes some commitment to support this operation. We are pleased that both residents and local businesses realise their support is vital to stopping the spread of the fruit fly and eventually eradicating it."

Until the fruit fly is confirmed as eradicated, controls on moving fruit and vegetables outside of the controlled area will continue.

MPI has recently allowed fruit and vegetables from certain approved retailers to be taken outside of the area.

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