Nothing is more disappointing for a keen home gardener than cutting open your proudly homegrown fruits or vegetables and finding fruit fly maggots – and they can certainly put people off of eating it.
Agriculture Victoria statewide fruit fly coordinator Cathy Mansfield reminded gardeners, landholders and those with a few trees or a veggie patch all to look out for and manage Queensland fruit fly.
“Fruit flies are usually most active September to May. As the weather heats up, now is a good time to look in your garden or property to see if they are present,” Ms Mansfield said.
“This year, more people have been paying attention to their garden or ramping up their gardening, and they may not be aware that we have Queensland fruit fly in Victoria.”
Fruit flies attack a wide range of fruit and vegetables including tomatoes, stone fruit, citrus, cherries, berries and grapes.
“Fruit fly maggots are often found in the centre of the fruit. The maggots are 5 to 10mm long and creamy – white in colour,” she said.
“Infested fruit must be disposed of properly, such as putting them in the sun for at least seven days in a sealed plastic bag to destroy eggs and maggots – do not put them in compost.”
With a wet and warm spring, the conditions have been favourable for fruit flies to breed, making treatment crucial this season.
“Protecting your garden is essential not just for your own produce, but also to limit fruit fly population growth and potential spread from your property to your neighbours, nearby orchards or farms.”
For the greatest chance of successful control, speak to your neighbours for a consistent approach and use the following techniques in your garden:
• follow good garden hygiene such as picking fruit and vegetables as they ripen • dispose of unwanted fruit and scraps carefully
• regularly monitor for fruit fly presence in your garden
• protect trees, plants and produce through netting, gazebos and bags
• use bait, traps and insecticide control.
“It’s a great strategy to net trees and vegetables to protect your garden crops and monitor specific Queensland fruit fly traps.
“If you have fruit trees in your garden but don’t manage them, it’s best to remove them so they don’t become a haven for fruit fly and grow a population in your area.”
For more information including lists of common fruit, how to control fruit fly in your garden and tips for netting trees, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/qff
