By Tyler Wright
Upper Yarra fruit farmers should be on alert the Queensland fruit fly after seven flies were detected in neighbouring Silvan in February.
Regional fruit fly project coordinator at Agribusiness Yarra Valley, Bronwyn Koll, alerted the public through social media and urged landowners and fruit growers in both central Silvan and the Mount Evelyn side of Silvan to work through their emergency response plan for the insect, which uses crops as a breeding ground.
“The detections are showing up in places where the the Queensland Fruit Fly Awareness Project has surveillance traps in place, so we’re catching these fruit flies and then we’re immediately contacting those that are nearby and asking them for their cooperation in investigating further to look at their practises, and those who have the ability to do so have been applying fruit fly bait,” Ms Koll said.
Landowners are encouraged to use nets to keep the fly away from ripening fruit and remove or destroy collected fruit waste by boiling or freezing their produce.
“The number one message for the non fruit growing areas or for the non fruit producing backyards is to get rid of the wild blackberry,” Ms Koll said.
“I believe that our biggest influx of fruit fly detections usually is close to the ripening period of our wild blackberries.
“The areas with uncontrolled blackberries that are in fruit right now are potentially hosting Queensland fruit fly.”
There are over 100 different host fruits for the Queensland fruit fly, including all tree fruit and lower ground crops like strawberries, capsicums and tomatoes.
Ms Koll said prior to 2018 there was no detection of Queensland fruit fly in the Yarra Valley, with some discovered since in Belgrave, Cockatoo, Yarra Glen, Healesvilee, Coldstream and Woori Yallock and Hoddles Creek, right through to Melbourne peri-urban areas including Warrandyte and Park Orchards and further towards the city.
Ms Koll said it is hard to pin point the reason for their migration to the area.
“Fruit fly generally move from region to region, either in fruit that people carry or they migrate from one town or one region to the next over time if they’re left unaddressed,” Ms Koll said.
“Because the fruit fly larvae are inside the fruit and there’s very little damage on the outside of the fruit, it’s really hard to tell whether something’s damaged or infested or not, because you don’t find out until you actually open the fruit up.”
There are currently over 200 fruit fly traps in the Yarra Valley, Ms Koll said, with Agribusiness Yarra Valley deploying extra traps with funding from Agriculture Victoria and the cooperation of landowners; teaching them about baiting or putting a net over their fruit.
“It’s all about early detection, rapid response, and then we provide free support to anyone that is affected,” she said.
In an online statement, Yarra Ranges Council said it has also undertaken measures to control the spread of Queensland fruit fly including trapping and the removal of fruit trees on public land that are susceptible to infestation.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, Jim Child, said it is a standard preventative approach as fruit trees on public land can pose a risk of Queensland fruit fly which is spread through dropped fruit.
“Following a confirmed detection of Queensland Fruit Fly, Agribusiness Yarra Valley requested that we assess nearby fruit trees on public land, which may be susceptible to infestation and remove them if necessary,” Councillor Child said.
“We have removed several trees on Council land – as we did in 2017-2020 to reduce the risk of fruit fly spreading.
“Fruit trees on public land are beloved by the community but can pose a risk when fruit fly is detected. We work with landowners and Agribusiness Yarra Valley to help owners eradicate fruit flies when detected, but sometimes extra measures are necessary.”
Cr Child said the agricultural industry in the Yarra Ranges is the fourth biggest industry in the industry and worth over $700 million.
“It is imperative that we maintain and act swiftly in stopping this invasive species from getting a foothold in the Yarra Ranges,” he said.
“We’re asking all community members who have backyard fruit trees to prune trees to manageable sizes, pick fruit when it is ripe – not letting it fall to the ground and spoil – to keep an eye out for fruit flies, reporting any sightings to Agribusiness Yarra Valley.”
Following a confirmed detection, Council works with residents and businesses in the affected area by providing information and guidance on how to prevent or reduce spread in their gardens, the statement read.
For more tips on how to prevent and get rid of Queensland fruit flies, visit the Agriculture Victoria website, Keep the Yarra Valley Fruit Fly Free on Facebook and fruitflyfreeyv.com.au
Yarra valley residents can contact Ms Koll with images of suspect fruit and their location on qff@agribusiness-yarravalley.com or 0490381999.
