EDITION 37 | October/November 2022
Stuart Burgess
Manager, National Fruit Fly Council
Message from the Manager
It’s been a busy few months in the fruit fly space covering everything from Council meetings and joint sessions with the Sterile Insect Technique Strategic Advisory Committee (SITSAC) as well as visits to the fruit fly team headed by Associate Professor Markus Riegler at the Institute for the Environment at Western Sydney University (WSU).
Activities planned for 2023 include the various Council and newly created Executive Committee meetings, National Fruit Fly (NFFC) Research Working Group and Fruit Fly Management Toolbox Task Group meetings, the National Fruit Fly Symposium planned for 17-19 July 2023, regional workshops (i.e. Area Wide Management) and a series of webinars being planned in the lead up to the symposium.
Building Capacity in Phytosanitary Irradiation Strategic Workshop
Fruit Fly Engagement Coordinator Chris O’Connor recently attended the 'Building Capacity in Phytosanitary Irradiation Strategic Workshop' hosted by Agriculture Victoria in Attwood.
The workshop allowed government, industry, research and service providers to come together and discuss industry experience with irradiation, overcoming the barriers to trade and how irradiation fits with the Australian Food Standards. This was followed by a tour of the Steritech Irradiation facility in Merrifield hosted by Steritech CEO, Murray Lynch and Fresh Produce Business Manager, Ben Reilly.
11th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance
The 11th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance (ISFFEI) will be held at Macquarie University in Sydney next week from 13 - 18 November.
The Symposium will gather scientists, researchers, and those involved in plant protection agencies and phytosanitary programs around the world, to share knowledge, technologies and experiences regarding fruit flies
11ISFFEI Speaker profile: Dr Nichilas Manoukis
One of the speakers at the upcoming 11th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance (ISFFEI) is Dr Nicholas Manoukis, a supervisory research biologist with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the agency responsible for intramural research in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). He will present ‘An efficient method to test screens for use in augmentoria applied to Bactrocera oleae, Ceratitis capitata, and two parasitoid wasp species’.
Voluntary tree replacement pilot program
The Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) has partnered with the District Council of Loxton Waikerie to run a pilot program to improve the management of backyard fruit trees.
The program aims to reduce fruit fly detections in the Riverland and educate residents about the importance of fruit tree maintenance. It involves replacing unwanted residential backyard fruit trees in the Waikerie red outbreak area with non-fruiting trees or shrubs.
Applications close on 31 January 2023.
In science
Analysis of components in male annihilation blocks used to manage Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt)
Bernie C. Dominiak & Niharika Sharmab
Published August 2022
Conservation biological control of the fruit fly parasitoid Fopiusa arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Colin Harris,Emma Bromley,Linda K Clarke,Bianca J Kay,Andrew C Schwenke, Anthony R Clarke
Published July 2022
The Fallacy of Year-Round Breeding in Polyphagous Tropical Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae): Evidence for a Seasonal Reproductive Arrestment in Bactrocera Species
Anthony R. Clarke, Peter Leach and Penelope F. Measham
Published September 2022
In the media
Fruit fly prevention in your backyard
As the weather warms up, PIRSA is increasing fruit fly eradication activities. Look out for our fruit fly officers in orange overalls, and please give them access to your yard so they can put up attract and kill devices (AKDs), apply organic bait, and check for signs of fruit fly.
Country Hour SA: cool wet spring ideal for fruit fly
The cooler and wetter spring may be creating an ideal environment for fruit fly to survive and thrive. Listen to the South Australian Country Hour podcast.
Invasive fruit fly may pose threat to forest ecosystems
The invasive spotted wing drosophila (SWD), introduced from South-East Asia, is a well-known fruit crop pest. It lays its eggs by destroying the mechanical protection of the fruit’s skin, providing an entry point for further infestation.
Fruit Fly ID
Bactrocera correcta
(Guava fruit fly)
Bactrocera correcta is a species of tephritid fruit flies that is widely distributed in Southeast Asia.
It is a serious pest species that has been detected in Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand (Northern, Central Plains, Southern), southern China, Bhutan, Peninsular Malaysia, Vietnam, Bangladesh.
Guava fruit fly has a broad host range with major commercial hosts including cashew, mango, cherries, and guava.
