It was formally identified on Thursday afternoon.
Spokeswoman Dr Catherine Duthie says the find does not mean New Zealand has an outbreak of fruit fly.
“The Queensland fruit fly has been detected six times before in northern New Zealand – in Whangarei and in Auckland.
“Of these detections, only one, in Auckland in 2015, turned out to be a part of a wider breeding population and this was successfully eradicated by Biosecurity NZ.
The biosecurity team responded swiftly and field crews started work today setting more fruit fly lure traps to determine if other flies are present in the area.
As a precautionary measure restrictions will be soon be put in place on the movement of fruit and vegetables out of the area.
A brochure with information about the fruit fly and controls will go to homes in the area later today.
“In the meantime we ask people who live in Devonport not to move any fruit or vegetables from their homes,” Duthie says.
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Information about the Queensland fruit fly is on the Primary Industries Ministry biosecurity website at: http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/fruitfly
