top of page
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Facebook Social Icon

Sterile fruit flies take flight following early road release

  • Writer: Flow Australia
    Flow Australia
  • 5 hours ago
  • 1 min read

The release of millions of sterile Queensland fruit flies across the Riverland will resume this week to stop fruit fly outbreaks and protect the region.

 

ree

General Manager of the Fruit Fly Response Program Jason Size said this pest control method is a key tactic used to reduce wild fruit fly population and remains a vital part of the broader response strategy.

 

“When sterile fruit flies mate with wild flies they stop the next generation before it begins, effectively breaking the fruit fly life cycle,” Mr Size said.

 

“Aerial SIT releases allow us to cover large areas quickly and efficiently, which supports our baiting, surveillance and hygiene activities on the ground.”

 

Ahead of the scheduled flights, PIRSA took advantage of a surplus of sterile flies in late July and conducted a one-week ground release in selected hotspots with vehicle-mounted units and static bins used to release sterile flies across parts of Renmark, Renmark North, Cooltong, Chaffey, Berri and Glossop.

 

“We used satellite-based land surface temperature mapping and data to identify areas where fruit fly might still be active, despite the cold winter conditions which discourage fly movement,” Mr Size said.

 

“While aerial release is our standard method, road or static releases allow us to act quickly when needed, especially in specific locations or where aerial release may not be possible.”

 

Aerial SIT releases will take place weekly in the Riverland and continue until Autumn 2026. For more information on SIT, visit  fruitfly.sa.gov.au/sit or call the 24-hour Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.

Comentários


Contact Us 

  • Grey Twitter Icon
  • Instagram
  • Grey Facebook Icon

© 2023 Flow Media Productions 

bottom of page