December 2025
Message from the manager
Welcome to the latest edition of our Prevent Fruit Fly newsletter. As the season continues to unfold, vigilance in fruit fly management remains a top priority. A range of practical tips and tools are available on the Prevent Fruit Fly website to support producers in staying one step ahead. In this edition, we share how 2025 became a turning point in fruit fly management, with strategic planning, economic analysis and collaboration shaping a new direction for the decade ahead. Discover key updates, events and what’s coming next.
NFFC news
NFFC planning update: Implementation Report and Plan coming soon
The National Fruit Fly Implementation Report 2024-25 and Implementation Plan 2025-26 will be available on the Prevent Fruit Fly website early 2026.
NFFC welcomes New Zealand delegation to Brisbane
New Zealand fruit fly leaders joined Australian counterparts in Brisbane to strengthen trans-Tasman collaboration on fruit fly management and biosecurity.
NFFC Meeting – 18 September 2025
NFFC members met in Brisbane to share updates, review strategy outcomes, and focus on strengthening national response to exotic fruit fly threats.
National Fruit Fly Strategic Review update
Planning for the next iteration of Australia’s National Fruit Fly Strategy has commenced with the identification of four strategic discussion themes for industry input and consultation.
Biocontrol research delivers promising results for fruit fly management
Over recent years, research into the use of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) as a biocontrol option has significantly advanced global capacity to manage the highly problematic pest spotted wing drosophila (SWD).
NFFC and FASTA Symposium
The NFFC participated in the FASTA Symposium at the University of Queensland in September. NFFC Chair John Webster provided an overview of the Council’s work and strategic direction.
National Priority Plant Pests: Australia's top biosecurity threats
The National Priority Plant Pests list identifies 116 significant threats to Australian agriculture, with fruit flies among the top-ranked pests driving national biosecurity planning and coordinated response efforts.
Who's who in fruit fly
Steve Burdette
With over 40 years working in horticulture, Steve Burdette has done it all, from growing export markets to leading fruit fly programs. Now as a Council and Executive Committee Member of the National Fruit Fly Council, he shares insights on his career, his role and why strong biosecurity remains his top priority.
Dr Rieks van Klinken
With a career spanning CSIRO leadership, international fieldwork and cutting-edge biosecurity science, Dr Rieks Van Klinken brings deep expertise and systems thinking to the National Fruit Fly Council. In this profile, he shares how data, collaboration and strategy are key to safeguarding Australia’s horticulture from fruit fly threats.
In science
Parasitoid releases to manage Qfly in southeastern Australia
Biocontrol using parasitoid wasps has considerable potential in assisting area-wide management of Bactrocera tryoni (QFly) in southeastern Australia where they are largely absent.
Global trends in bio control research for Drosophila suzukii
This review reports the main developments in the biological control of spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, using parasitoids, predatory insects, and entomopathogens.
Fruit fly larvae can sense electric fields
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara have found that fruit fly larvae have a surprising sixth sense—they can detect electric fields. This ability, called electroreception, is common in animals like sharks and bees, but had never been seen in fruit flies until now.
10 facts about fruit flies in scientific research
Did you know that at least five Nobel Prizes have been awarded for research on fruit flies and that recent research with fruit flies has focused on the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease? Explore more interesting facts about fruit flies in scientific research.
Long-term behaviour study of fruit flies
This study recorded the movements of individual fruit flies over several days in a controlled setting, allowing researchers to gather detailed information about their activity linked to ageing and environment.
Asia Pacific Drosophila Research Conference 7
The Asia Pacific Drosophila Research Conference 7 (APDRC7) is a key scientific conference for the Asia Pacific fruit fly research community. This year, the event is being held in Taipei, Taiwan from 30 November to 4 December.
Field suppression of spotted wing drosophila with SIT
Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii, SWD) is an economically important pest of soft and stone fruit worldwide. This research investigated the potential of using SIT to control D. suzukii in field conditions without physical barriers that limit insect invasion.
Fruit flies were the first creatures to reach space
Before astronaut Buzz Aldrin reached space there was another “buzz” that beat him to it. Fruit flies were the first living creatures to cross the final frontier. Over the past seven decades, they have helped scientists investigate questions like the effect of space flight on aging and sleep.
Managing Tephritid fruit fly species in Australia
Australian horticulture is at risk from incursions by exotic tephritid fruit fly species, particularly Oriental fruit fly. This study investigated global management strategies for exotic fruit fly species and compared them with available local strategies in Australia to identify potential areas for improvement.
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.
In the media
Testing Australia’s response to exotic fruit fly threats
Government and industry partners recently came together through Exercise Motus to test how an exotic fruit fly detection might affect horticulture and to strengthen our national response.
Ceduna declared fruit fly free
Ceduna has been declared free from Mediterranean fruit fly, following its successful eradication through the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) fruit fly response program.
Biosecurity in action:
Riverland grower leads the way
Riverland grower Richie Roberts from RNR Farms has seen how quickly a fruit fly detection can ripple through the community. When fruit fly is found nearby, he acts immediately.
Home compost a breeding ground for fruit fly
In South Australia, fruit fly is a threat to our horticulture industries and home gardens. While composting is a fantastic way to reduce waste, it can be a breeding ground for fruit fly.
Aerial release of sterile fruit flies begins over Adelaide
Small planes started flying low over parts of Adelaide’s north, east and western suburbs on Saturday 9 August, releasing millions of sterile fruit flies.
Funding secured for fruit fly program
Greater Shepparton City Council has secured state government funding for the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Program, to continue efforts in managing Queensland Fruit Fly across the region.
Fruit Fly ID
Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila)
Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) is one of the few species of Drosophilidae known to be a pest of healthy, unripe fruit. It breeds in a wide variety of thick-skinned small fruits. Commercial hosts include cherries and stone fruit, strawberries, rubus, grapes, apples and pears. Originally from eastern Asia, it has spread to many other regions of the world including parts of North America, Europe and South America. The fruit fly is currently not found in Australia.
