October 2026
Message from the manager
Welcome to the latest edition of the Prevent Fruit Fly newsletter.
In this edition, I reflect on the key themes emerging from stakeholder engagement to inform the next National Fruit Fly Strategy, including market access, pest management, preparedness and research priorities.
We also acknowledge the significant contribution of Peter Leach to Australian horticulture and fruit fly research, and the lasting legacy he leaves for industry, government and the research community.
NFFC news
Vale Peter Leach
The National Fruit Fly Council acknowledges the passing of Peter Leach, a respected researcher whose work on fruit fly disinfestation, phytosanitary treatments and market access made a significant contribution to Australian horticulture.
National Fruit Fly Strategy development progresses
The final workshop informing development of the next National Fruit Fly Strategy was held in September, bringing total stakeholder participation to more than 55 representatives nationwide. Feedback and economic analysis will help shape the new strategy and identify future priorities for fruit fly management and market access.
Who's who in fruit fly
Dr Steve Quarrell
Dr Steve Quarrell's career has taken him from working in orchards and vineyards to completing a PhD in horticultural pest management and leading biosecurity planning projects at Plant Health Australia.
In this profile, Steve shares his pathway into agriculture and the experiences that continue to shape his approach to biosecurity and preparedness.
An update from FASTA
Parasitoids show promise against Qfly
Research underway through FASTA is exploring how parasitoid wasps may help suppress Queensland fruit fly populations as part of area wide management programs. Early findings suggest some species can establish and persist under Victorian conditions.
In science
- Behavior, Ecology and Integrated Management of Fruit Flies,
De Meyer, M., & Papadopoulos, N. T. (2026). Insects, 17(5), 521. - Parasitoid releases to manage Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, in southeastern Australia.
McLay, L.K.R., Dawson, J.C. & Cunningham, J.P. BioControl 71, 1–13 (2026). - Non-Invasive Computer Vision-Based Fruit Fly Larvae Differentiation: Ceratitis capitata and Bactrocera zonata.
Kanevsky, E., Lazebnik, T., Kaspi, R., Gazit, Y., Halon, E., Fried, D., Zamansky, A. and Pines, G. (2026) J Appl Entomol, 150: 107-114. - Applying convolutional neural networks to X-ray images to improve postharvest detection of fruit fly infestation.
Scolari, F., Serfontein, L., Kirkman, W., Moore, S., Hoffman, J., Bam, L., Moyano, A., Sutton, J.F., Pezzoni, C., Możdżyński, G.J., Dario Pescini, D., Sandionigi, A. and Manrakhan, A. (2026)
Postharvest Biology and Technology, Volume 243, 114707. - Novel approaches for the detection of low-density Mediterranean fruit fly populations.
Bali EM., Verykouki E., Papachristos D., Antonatos S., Milonas P., Papadopoulos N. 2026
Biological invasions. 28(9):195
Do you have a journal article on fruit fly related research? We’d love to hear from you!
Share your article with us at fruitfly@phau.com.au and we’ll help promote it within the fruit fly community. We’re always interested in showcasing the latest research on fruit flies from Australia and around the world, covering a diverse range of topics.
Fruit Fly ID
New Guinea fruit fly (Bactrocera trivialis)
Bactrocera trivialis is an exotic fruit fly species found in Papua New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. It has a broad host range and can infest commercially important crops including mango, chilli, grapefruit, peach and guava. While seasonal incursions into the Torres Strait are detected and eradicated through ongoing surveillance activities, continued vigilance is important to prevent establishment on mainland Australia.
