The Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program is supporting growers in Victoria’s Goulburn Murray Valley region to ensure all commercial orchards have an active pest management strategy and are practising good orchard hygiene.

Effective orchard hygiene and the removal of all residual fruit from orchards and commercial properties in autumn is an essential aspect in reducing the impact of the pest on the upcoming season.

The program’s acting regional coordinator, Penny Aston said orchard hygiene was critical in breaking the fruit fly lifecycle.

“One reason for fruit flies surviving winter is that late fruiting plants are not managed after harvesting and left-over fruit combined with benign weather conditions promote the survival of fruit fly,” Ms Aston said.

The most effective way to break the fruit fly life cycle is by successfully cleaning up any fruit fly host material.

The Goulburn Murray Valley has been impacted by severe weather events. Correctly disposing of damaged
and unwanted fruit correctly is essential in helping stop the spread of Queensland fruit fly.   

“Unfortunately we have seen an increase in undesirable practices where good orchard hygiene is not achieved and rotten or unwanted fruit is disregarded or used for cattle feed, causing major infestations in some areas.

“Not only are these piles of fruit going to affect a commercial growers’ land this year and next, but this practice also gives flies the opportunity to fly to find somewhere to hibernate and come out in full force next season in neighbouring properties.

“It is imperative that unwanted and any residual fruit is treated and disposed of correctly in order to combat the spread of Queensland fruit fly both this season and the approaching season.”

Ms Aston said fruit flies that are able to survive winter are the culprits for the start a new season next season, resulting in the continuation of the fruit fly lifecycle. She said residual fruit should be slashed once it has been moved into the interrow so it can dry out quickly.

“We are reminding orchardists and commercial growers that the post-harvest period is an ideal time to review their fruit fly management strategies or develop one if they do not have one an active strategy in place, as remaining vigilant around fruit fly control over autumn will impact spring populations.

“Adults forming throughout autumn as it gets colder are not attracted to traps and will overwinter in warm spots on the landscape and will be ready to infest fruit in the new season next spring, so action now is essential.

“Regular baiting programs often cease in many orchards at the end of the commercial harvest period so attention to late fruiting crops is paramount.”

Ms Aston said good orchard hygiene is of critical importance in the Goulburn Murray Valley following a season significantly impacted by severe weather events resulting in damaged fruit for many growers.

For more information about the program, visit www.fruitflycontrol.com.au

Good orchard hygiene incorporates:

• Removing ripe fruit from the tree and collecting fallen fruit to reduce opportunities for fruit fly to breed

• Picking fruit early – as fruit ripens it become more attractive to fruit fly, so it is important to pick and remove fruit early

• Ensuring easy access to fruit by pruning trees

• Disposing of effected fruit correctly by placing spoilt fruit in a heavy-duty plastic bag, sealing it, and putting it in the hot sun for 14 days to cook the larvae. Do not place spoilt fruit straight in the bin or compost

Removal of damaged fruit is critical in reducing the number of places the female Queensland fruit fly can find fruit to sting and minimises the possibility of new generations of fruit fly development.

“We are continuing to work with growers and the broader community to ensure post-harvest hygiene is achieved,” Ms Aston said.

As part of the program’s focus on education and awareness, a field officer is available to visit properties and provide personalised information to growers, schools and home gardeners as a free service aimed at increasing fruit fly knowledge.

The program brings together industry, government, and the community to apply an area wide management approach to the management and control of fruit fly. The Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program is supported by the Victorian Government.