The Department of Agriculture and Food has confirmed the detection of six Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) in the Alfred Cove area.
Department entomologist Darryl Hardie said two male flies were initially found on 18 November in surveillance traps which form part of the early warning fruit fly trapping system operated by the department across the State.
The department acted quickly to install supplementary traps, and a further four male flies were caught on 23 November in the same area.
“Qfly is considered Australia’s worst fruit pest, impacting on more than 200 different fruits and some vegetables,” Dr Hardie said.
“It attacks a wide range of hosts including citrus, figs, grapes and mangoes which are also attacked by the long established Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) that is endemic in Western Australia except the Ord River Irrigation Area at Kununurra.
“However unlike Medfly, chillies, tomatoes, strawberries, avocados, passionfruit and some vegetables are also attacked by Qfly.”
Dr Hardie said Qfly was previously detected in Perth and was successfully eradicated in 1989, 1995 and 2011. It is currently present in all other states except South Australia and Tasmania.
The department is continuing to conduct surveillance and check all traps within a 200 metre radius of where each fly was found to determine the extent of the outbreak.
Dr Hardie said the WA fruit and vegetable industries had been advised of the detection and would work with the department to develop a response plan. Further advice will be provided to industry and the local community as more information becomes available.
More information is available on the department website here.
Media contacts: Jodie Thomson/Lisa Bertram media liaison +61 (0)8 9368 3937