Industry Update

Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) - South Perth Outbreak

Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) has been detected in the South Perth area. A response is underway to support eradication and protect Western Australia’s horticultural industries.

Industry Webinar

Thank you to those who attended the recent industry webinar.

A recording of the session is now available, providing an overview of the Qfly response, the Quarantine Area and what this means for industry.

For further information, including movement requirements and approved measures, visit wa.gov.au/qfly. For questions not covered on the website, contact the team at qfly@dpird.wa.gov.au.

Current Status

The Quarantine Area established on 17 April 2026 remains in place as response and eradication activities continue across South Perth and surrounding suburbs. Operations are progressing, with a strong focus on baiting, property visits, surveillance and community engagement to the prevent further spread of Qfly.

The Quarantine Area consists of the:

• Red Zone (Corrective Action Zone) – intensive eradication activities, including movement controls
• Orange Zone (Export Assurance Zone – buffer area with movement controls in place

What we are doing

Response activities are being delivered across the Quarantine Area to support eradication, with large-scale operational and engagement efforts underway.

• Field teams are visiting properties within the red zone to apply a baited insecticide
• Fruit fly lures are being deployed across the red zone which, with an active life of three months, provide a constant Qfly eradiation measure even during rainy periods
• Fruit samples are being collected for larval analysis to strengthen surveillance and support detection activities
• Street trees throughout the red zone continue to be baited regularly to supress adult Qfly
• Multiple compliance teams are operating across both the red and orange Zones, including a dedicated Perth Markets team, focusing on compliance with quarantine requirements
• Community and industry engagement is expanding, with dedicated community engagement officers now supporting outreach and communications.

Image: larval analysis of fruit samples

What to expect - response timeframes

The Qfly response follows a structured sequence of activities to support eradication and demonstrate proof of area freedom.

Detection and alert (days): Qfly is detected and an incident is declared.

Delimiting surveillance (weeks): Additional trapping and surveillance are undertaken to determine the extent of the spread. This informs the establishment of a Quarantine Area.

Active response: A response phase is implemented, including baiting, trapping, surveillance and movement controls.

The active response will remain in place for a minimum period of either 12+ weeks or one Qfly generation plus 28 days following the last Qfly detection.

A Qfly generation is influenced by temperature, meaning:

• Warmer conditions can shorten the lifecycle, increasing reproduction rates
• Cooler conditions can extend the lifecycle, meaning monitoring and response activities may need to continue for longer

If further Qfly detections occur, the response timeframe resets to ensure any remaining population is effectively managed.

Eradication is only confirmed when there are no detections over the required period, after which area freedom can be claimed and response activities are stood down.

What this means for industry

Quarantine zones and movement controls remain in place to manage biosecurity risk and protect market access.

• Movement restrictions for host fruit and fruiting vegetables continue to apply within the Red and Orange Zones.
• Businesses operating within, or moving produce through, the quarantine area must ensure compliance with approved movement and treatment requirements.

Perth Markets fall within the Orange Zone, and work is ongoing to minimise risk while supporting continuity of trade.

Next steps

Response activities will continue to scale across the Red Zone in the coming weeks. Property visits, surveillance, baiting, supplementary trapping and community engagement will be progressively expanded to ensure comprehensive coverage of the quarantine area.

Additional staff area being onboarded to support operations, incident management and community and industry engagement.

Ongoing engagement with residents, industry and stakeholders will remain a priority to support movement controls, provide accurate and timely information and promote the actions required to support successful eradication.

Working with industry

We are committed to keeping industry informed and engaged throughout the response. Stakeholder feedback will continue to inform response activities where appropriate. 

Reporting and information

Suspected Qfly can be reported to the Pest and Disease Information Service on 9368 3080 or via the MyPestGuide® Reporter app.

Up-to-date information is available at: wa.gov.au/qfly

For enquiries or further support, contact: qfly@dpird.wa.gov.au

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Important disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.

Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2026