SA fruit fly outbreak areas expand

This includes stepping up roadblocks at Blanchetown to try and protect the Riverland's pest-free status.

The new outbreak at Semaphore Park was declared after the discovery of 12 Mediterranean fruit flies in a trap in the area, as part of PIRSA surveillance activities.

It follows a declaration in Rosewater in late March.

These two outbreaks are separate to existing outbreak areas at Angle Park, Blair Athol and Croydon Park, but are in nearby.

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An intense eradication program has begun to eliminate any fruit flies from the outbreak area and surrounds, with staff out on the ground - wearing their orange overalls and carrying ID - to apply bait to trees in the affected areas.

PIRSA Biosecurity executive director, Nathan Rhodes, said PIRSA was on the front foot and had adjusted its eradication program to ensure it is successful.

"We have a 100 per cent success rate of eradicating fruit fly and we want to keep it that way - and for that to happen, we urge residents to give us easy access to their properties so we can quickly do our baiting work on any fruit trees and other foliage," he said.

"We give residents 24-hour notice before we access properties to apply bait - all we are interested in is fruit and fruiting vegetables - so by complying with these requirements, we cover the affected areas and don't miss any pockets where fly populations may be breeding.

"We are also asking affected residents - as well as anyone in metropolitan and regional areas - to play a critical role in breaking the fruit fly life cycle by stripping any remaining fruit from their trees. Excess fruit can be either cooked or preserved or placed securely in your green bin.

"It is also important to pick up any fruit that's on the ground, and placing it securely in your green bin."

Mr Rhodes said with many people staying at home, it was a perfect opportunity to keep fit while doing a meaningful task to make a difference with these outbreaks - even get the kids involved!

"Ultimately, by doing all this, it means we can eat our home-grown fruit without any wriggling fruit fly maggots in it - no one wants to eat infested fruit, so let's all play our part," he said.

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With the outbreaks occurring alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, PIRSA has adjusted its eradication program to apply the appropriate social distancing measures.

Residents in the affected outbreak areas are being asked to allow easy access to front and back gardens for PIRSA to do their work quickly and maintain social distancing., as well as picking up all fallen and over ripe fruit in the backyard, and removing any remaining fruit from trees.

They are also requested to seal any maggots found in homegrown fruit and vegetables in an airtight container and call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.

PIRSA will also be continuing conducting random roadblocks under the zero tolerance policy, including at Blanchetown, to ensure fruit from Adelaide is not taken into the Riverland fruit growing area.

Penalties apply for any traveller taking fruit into the Riverland Pest Free Area.

Suburbs within the Semaphore Park outbreak area include: Ethelton, Glanville, New Port, Semaphore, Semaphore Park, Sempahore South, West Lakes and West Lakes Shore.

Suburbs within the Rosewater outbreak area include: Alberton, Albert Park, Cheltenham, Gillman, Hendon, Ottoway, Pennington, Port Adelaide, Queenstown, Rosewater and Royal Park.

At this stage, if no further wild flies or larvae are detected, it is anticipated the quarantine zones will be lifted on December 18.