Northland’s multi-million dollar horticulture industry at low risk from Oriental fruit fly

A single male fruit fly found in the Hatea Drive area of Whangārei sparked a major biosecurity operation in 2014. A network of surveillance traps across the region are being checked by biosecurity officials after a fruit fly was found in Auckland

An Oriental fruit fly find in Auckland is unlikely to increase the risk for Northland’s horticulture industry, but biosecurity officials are checking the network of surveillance traps across the region.

A major biosecurity operation is under way in South Auckland after an Oriental fruit fly was found in a backyard, with restrictions on the movement of fruit and vegetables to come into force.

Biosecurity New Zealand said a single male fly was found in a surveillance trap in Papatoetoe.

A male Oriental fruit fly has been found in Papatoetoe, Auckland, Biosecurity NZ says

If the fruit fly established itself in New Zealand, the country’s horticulture industry would face massive economic costs, the government organisation said.

Extra field teams were in the suburb this week but checks of other traps in the Papatoetoe and Mangere areas did not turn up any other fruit flies, Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner Mike Inglis said.

Northland has had several fruit flies found in the region in the past 30 years, each time sparking major biosecurity operations and putting restrictions on transporting fruit.

Northland exports are worth $2.4 billion a year, with horticulture and fruit growing accounting for 12.5% of the overall value so a fruit fly find in the region could have a huge financial impact on the industry.

The main horticulture areas in Northland are around Kerikeri and Maungatapere.

Inglis said Biosecurity New Zealand had successfully eradicated fruit flies when previous incursions were detected.

Biosecurity officers deliver information to residents in the South Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe. An operation is underway after an Oriental fruit fly was found in a backyard surveillance trap

‘‘There have been 12 incursions of different fruit fly in Auckland and Northland since 1996 and all have been successfully eradicated thanks to the work of Biosecurity New Zealand, our horticulture partners, and local communities who have stepped up to help,’’ Inglis said.

He said the most likely way fruit flies arrived in New Zealand was on fresh fruit and vegetables.

‘‘There is no evidence to suggest that there is increased risk of fruit flies present in Northland,’’ Inglis said.

The National Fruit Fly Surveillance Programme is being carried out as per normal, with 393 traps distributed across the Northland region, and the next round of trap inspections for Northland began this week through to January 19.

‘‘We have high confidence in these traps to provide early detection should there be an incursion, as they did in the Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe. There are more than 7,800 traps set around the country and pheromones are used to lure fruit flies into the traps.’’

He said traps are placed in grids, concentrating in populated areas serving as centres for tourism and/or trade, areas of significant horticultural activity and areas specified as being climatically conducive to the establishment of fruit flies. Any catches trigger a response similar to the current Auckland response.

‘‘We always encourage people to keep an eye out for any exotic (new to New Zealand) pests and diseases. People and growers should keep a look out for signs such as larvae in locally produced fruit and report it to MPI’s Pest and Diseases Hotline on 0800 80 99 66.’’

Information about the Oriental fruit fly can be found on MPI’s web site mpi.govt.nz/fruitfly