The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is calling on residents in Dalkeith to support efforts to stamp out the exotic pest, Queensland Fruit Fly (Qfly).
The announcement follows the detection of Qfly in traps in the area.
Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer at the Department, Sonya Broughton said Qfly was one of the world’s worst fruit pests, attacking a range of fruits and some fruiting vegetables.
“A quarantine area, applying across parts of the suburbs of Dalkeith, Nedlands and Claremont, is now in effect to prevent potential spread of the pest,” Dr Broughton said.
“Residents must not move any home-grown fruit or fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, chillies or capsicums out of this area unless it has been cooked, frozen, dried or preserved”
She said residents should also dispose of ripening and fallen fruit and fruiting vegetables every three days.
“The easiest and most beneficial option for disposing of fruit and vegetables is to eat, cook, freeze, preserve or dry it,” Dr Broughton said.
She said Departmental staff were carrying out trapping, inspections and baiting of host plants on street trees and verges close to where Qfly had been detected.
“It is also critical that Departmental officers can access private premises with host trees and plants to conduct trapping, inspections and baiting,” Dr Broughton said.
“It is vital we work together to eradicate this pest, to support our local horticultural growers and also those who want to continue producing home-grown fruit and fruiting vegetables.”
She said incursions of Qfly have been eradicated from Perth seven times since the 1980s, most recently in Como and Fremantle 2018.
Residents who suspect they have seen Qfly or have fruit or fruiting vegetables are invited to call the Department’s Pest and Disease Information Service on 9368 3080.
