Auckland Queensland fruit fly - Operations updates

Operations update 2

25 February 2015

Note to media: MPI aims to supply a once daily operational update by midday. This timing fits in with the morning round of reporting from operational activities. This schedule will be altered only if there is a significant development.

The total number of adult Queensland fruit flies detected in Auckland stands at five.

Following the detection yesterday of a male fly in a trap, fruit from the property with the trap and a neighbouring property has been examined and there were no signs of fruit fly.

MPI remains confident it is dealing with a localised population of fruit fly that can be eradicated.

Traps are expected to find further fruit flies. To provide context, during a previous eradication programme of the Mediterranean fruit fly in Auckland in 1996, 41 adult flies were detected before the pest was declared eradicated.

Field work continues to focus on the surveillance trapping system, which aims to capture any male fruit flies present in the area, and ultimately inform us that the eradication is successful.

Field teams are also applying insecticide bait throughout the Controlled Area, informing residents about the controls and inspecting gardens and rubbish bins

Insecticide bait is being spot applied as a single squirt to fruiting trees and plants throughout the Controlled Area (Zones A and B). This bait contains a protein that attracts both male and female fruit flies and a small amount of fipronil insecticide, which is an insecticide used most commonly in pet flea collars. About 5-6 squirts of the bait are applied per property.

The bait application may appear like spraying – as it is applied by operators using backpacks and spray-like wands. However the bait is a thick solution that is viscous to stick to the plant. It does not create a spray mist.

Targeted ground spraying of insecticide is only taking place at properties where fruit flies, larvae or pupae have been found – to date there is just the one property.

The spray is also applied by ground-operators using backpack equipment. This product used is bifenthrin – a treatment that is safe for use in residential areas because it has been proven to do no harm to people, or animals such as family pets or livestock. Because of this it is one of the most common insect treatments found in products sold in supermarkets and hardware stores.

Approximately 188 field staff are out today (from MPI, operations provider AsureQuality and partners, including Auckland Council and the horticulture industry). Approximately 80 people are working on the operation in MPI’s Wellington Head office.

Controls are in place restricting the movement of fruit and some vegetables out of a specified Controlled Area. Full information is athttp://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/queensland-fruit-fly. /

All properties within Zone A, the area extending 200m from the location of the property where fruit with larvae was found, have been visited and residents provided with information about the fruit fly.

These residents also have their own dedicated disposal bin to get rid of fruit and vegetable waste from their properties. Residents in Zone A have been asked to leave any fruit from trees in their garden on the ground for MPI to inspect.

Residents in Zone B (the area extending 1500m from the location of the affected property) have also been provided with information and have access to disposal rubbish bins at 200m intervals around the Zone.

Since the discovery of the first fruit fly, MPI has placed 309 traps to lure any male fruit flies present in Zone A. There are 190 traps in Zone B.

Traps in Zone A are checked daily and those in Zone B are checked every 3 days.

MPI is running a field laboratory identifying any insects trapped and also cutting and testing fruit and vegetables collected from properties in the Controlled Area.

Twelve boundary road signs are in place on main arterial routes through the Controlled Area and a further 24 signs on secondary routes.

An extensive programme of public awareness activity is underway including print, radio and web advertising, leafleting to all homes in the Controlled Area, signage, info at supermarkets and retailers and bus shelter advertising.

As of 11am this morning, there have been no additional restrictions applied to horticultural exports from New Zealand by trading partners.

Previous Updates

Operations update 1 - 24 February 2015 /[PDF link]

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