
How to get rid of a fruit fly killer – the easy way
Posted June 24, 2018 03:23:31 With honey bees and other pollinators struggling to cope with the pressures of climate change, it’s time to get the fruit fly out of the fruit.
This is not an easy job and it can take months to get to a safe and humane solution, says Andrew McLean from the Australian Fruit Fly Network.
“It’s a huge and complex task, and we’re working on it as a coalition,” he says.
“We’re not just a group of people who are in this to help, we’re a community.”
Fruit flies are a big problem in Australia.
About 20,000 people are thought to be infected with the disease each year.
The disease is caused by a bacterium, Fusarium oxysporum, which lives on the skin of fruit flies.
It is transmitted by bites from infected flies, or a bite from a dead fly.
In some cases, it can be passed from a female to her male offspring, resulting in offspring with the virus.
Fruit flies also spread the fungus, causing symptoms in people who have been bitten by the insects.
In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned of the virus’ “grave” potential for spread.
The Australian government said in 2017 that it was introducing new legislation to ban the trade of fruit fly larvae.
The move came after a court case was launched against a farmer who was selling fruit fly larva in Tasmania.
“This is the first time that we have introduced an legislation on fruit fly products, and it’s a welcome step,” said Environment Minister Greg Hunt.
The legislation bans the importation and sale of fruitfly larvae from overseas.
The measures were introduced in June this year and come into force on August 30.
“The legislation will stop these pests from returning to Australia, and this will also stop them from infecting more people and increasing their numbers,” said Hunt.
“They will be banned from our agricultural sector and we will continue to protect people from this very serious disease.”
The legislation is also expected to affect the Australian fruit fly population.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is considering whether to introduce new measures in response to the disease.
DPI chief executive Scott Larkin says the company has identified three areas where the disease could return, including in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
“There are two areas that we are currently looking at and we have the capacity to increase our capacity and provide more resources to Queensland and other states,” he said.
“But we do want to do that in a responsible way.”
DPI’s Dr Mark Brown says the larva on sale is not the only issue for the pest.
“One of the things we have noticed is there’s a lot of people selling fruitfly eggs and we are seeing a lot more of those,” he told ABC Radio Hobart.
“People are also getting them out in Australia, so there’s probably a lot going on there.”
DDPI is also monitoring a “red alert” level for the fungus that can be found in fruit flies in the ACT.
The state government has launched a national campaign to prevent the spread of the fungus.
If you have eaten a fruit, you can get a “free” test from the DPI website.
You can also call 1-800-869-5525 to get a free sample from your local pharmacy.
The DPI is also encouraging people to take action to help control the disease through a campaign.
The government says it is also urging farmers to use the latest food-grade pesticides, such as pyrethrins and fungicides, to control the fungus in their fields.