A biosecurity operation is in progress in the suburb of Birkdale, on Auckland's North Shore, following the discovery of a single male Oriental fruit fly in a surveillance trap in a suburban backyard. Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North, Mike Inglis, confirmed the detection and emphasized the urgency of the response.
"This is the same species of fruit fly that we responded to in Papatoetoe recently, but it is too early to say whether the two finds are linked. Our lab will do further DNA analysis of the fly over the coming days," Inglis stated.
With this latest detection, Biosecurity New Zealand is moving quickly to search for any other fruit flies and take measures to eradicate them. The operation will include increased trapping and inspection, with daily checks in a 200-meter zone from the original find and additional checks every three days in a second zone extending out to 1,500 meters.
"The capture of a single male does not mean we have an outbreak. However, while we conduct our checks, we need community help to prevent any possible spread," Inglis explained. As a precautionary measure, legal restrictions will be placed on the movement of fruit and vegetables out of the affected area. The exact boundaries of these restrictions will be determined following an initial investigation, with detailed instructions set to be released tomorrow. In the meantime, residents and businesses in the suburb are urged not to take any whole fresh fruit or vegetables off their properties.
Biosecurity staff will be in the area tomorrow to provide information to the community. Residents may notice increased activity as field officers conduct inspections and trapping. Officers may request access to fruit trees on private properties, but they will always present official identification and will only enter with permission.
"There have been 13 incursions of different fruit fly species in Auckland and Northland since 1996, and all have been successfully eradicated thanks to the efforts of Biosecurity New Zealand, our horticulture partners, and the local communities who have stepped up to help," Inglis said.
He referenced a 2019 response when fruit flies were detected in three separate suburbs over several months, noting that tracing and tracking continued until officials were confident the pest had been eliminated.
The latest find highlights the importance and effectiveness of Biosecurity New Zealand's surveillance trapping network, which consists of nearly 8,000 traps set across the country and checked regularly. "By setting traps for these pest insects, we are able to find them early, know exactly where the problem is, and respond quickly and effectively," Inglis stated.
Residents who suspect they have found an Oriental fruit fly are urged to photograph it, capture it if possible, and immediately report the sighting to Biosecurity New Zealand by calling the Pest and Diseases Hotline at +64 0800 80 99 66.
For more information:
Ministry for Primary Industries
Tel: +64 029 894 0328
Email: media@mpi.govt.nz
www.mpi.govt.nz