Millions of sterile Queensland Fruit Flies will be released over trial sites in western NSW and northern Victoria early September as scientists intensify efforts to protect horticultural crops from one of the nation’s most damaging pests.

The move marks the first time the nation’s $60M effort to curb Queensland Fruit Fly (Qfly), the SITPlus program, has moved into NSW and Victoria for full trials, following successful releases of the sterile flies in South Australia over the past year.

Macquarie University is leading the pilot release effort. The University’s ARC Centre for Fruit Fly Biosecurity Innovation Director Professor Phil Taylor said the flies will be released over urban areas in Cobram Victoria and Hillston NSW – including 1000 hectares of citrus, cherry and summerfruit trees surrounding Hillston township – from September 11 and 12 respectively. 

“At each location, about two million sterile flies will be released from a customised aircraft each week until April 2020,” he said.

“On the ground, scientists will monitor the movement of the flies, their longevity in the field, the impact on crops and the wild population.”

Hort Innovation SITPlus director Dan Ryan said Qflies are responsible for an estimated $300 million in lost produce and markets nationally, and the SITPlus initiative is working to turn that around.

“The sterile Qfly production facility in Port Augusta is in full swing, producing 20 million flies per week,” he said.

“Satellite rear-out centres, which receive sterile flies from pupae stage and grow them for release, are also now open in Yanco NSW and Tatura, Victoria. The program is constantly being refined to ensure the best possible outcomes.”

Mr Ryan said some of the nation’s leading scientists have invested countless hours ensuring the sterile fruit flies will be fit and attractive to native flies, encouraging them to ‘mate’ without producing offspring.

“Female fruit flies are very astute when it comes to selecting a mate,” he said. “As a result, our scientists have spent hours developing breeding programs that ensure our sterile Qflies are the most attractive, best smelling, best ‘singing’ and fittest flies possible.”