Friday, March 29, 2024

Second Queensland fruit fly found

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A second Queensland fruit fly has been discovered, this time in Northcote.
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The solitary male fly was collected from a fruit fly trap and formally identified yesterday. 

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director-general Ray Smith says while there have now been two finds they do not mean New Zealand has an outbreak of fruit fly.

“We are totally focused on finding out if there is an incursion of the Queensland fruit fly in these areas. At the moment these are two single males found quite some distance apart and there’s no evidence of a breeding population.”

He has commissioned an independent assurance review of air and cruise passenger pathways that will get under way next week. Australian expert Rob Delane has been appointed to do the review and will be on board next week.

On the ground in Auckland a field crew continues work in the suburb of Devonport today, where no further fruit flies have been found. 

A similar field crew has begun work in Northcote.

The fruit fly response at a glance:

More than 80 Biosecurity NZ staff working across all responses. 

Field crews are working across the responses, working closely with the communities. 

Biosecurity NZ is having leaflets translated into a number of languages including Samoan, Tongan, Chinese, Cook Island Maori, Fijian and Hindi. 

Signs have been put on key arterial roads in and out of Otara and Devonport and will now be placed in Northcote. 

Bins will be provided in the area so people can safely dispose of fruit and vegetable waste.

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