Managing fruit fly: what can we do now?

As Victorians are asked to be on the lookout for Medfly this season and take additional biosecurity precautions, it is a timely reminder to revisit orchard sanitation and fruit fly prevention best practice. 

Bronwyn Koll, Queensland Fruit Fly Regional Coordinator (Yarra Valley), Agribusiness Yarra Valley, has provided a ‘refresher course’ on prevention and management of Queensland Fruit Fly. 

The Yarra Valley fruit fly management strategy focuses on early detection, rapid response and community-wide education and participation. 

Sanitation is the key component to the multi-pronged approach to fruit fly management, and Bronwyn has laid out the various stages to consider in orchard sanitation and where industry can focus attention for improvement. 

You can find the Apple and Pear IPDM Manual Fruit Fly fact sheet referenced in Bronwyn’s presentation here.