BIOSECURITY Tasmania is undertaking control and surveillance operations following the detection of Queensland fruit fly larvae at three sites on Flinders Island and one site near Spreyton.
Fruit fly can have major impacts on the production of fruit and vegetables from backyards to major producers. As well as ruining produce, its presence adds costs to production to reduce its impact.
As part of reducing the risk of the further movement of fruit fly and protecting markets for growers outside the affected area, a 15-kilometre control area has been declared around the detection sites.
Fruit and vegetables susceptible to fruit fly cannot be moved outside of these areas without authorisation from Biosecurity Tasmania.
If you grow fruit and vegetables in your backyard, you should not sell or give it to people while these restrictions are in place.
Fruit and vegetables grown in the control area cannot be sold at roadside stalls or at markets either within or outside the control area.
Fruit and vegetables purchased from major supermarkets can be taken to your home for consumption, but not moved outside the control area.
A mature fruit fly is around seven millimetres long. Mature larvae are between eight and 11 millimetres in length and approximately 1.5 millimetres in width. They are usually easy to see in fruit flesh.
If you think you may have fruit infested with fruit fly, please call Biosecurity Tasmania on 6165 3774. Visit www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fruitfly for information.
- This story first appeared on The Examiner.