The Queensland Fruit Fly is one of Australia’s worst horticultural pests and has recently been found in Manningham.

There are steps you can take to help prevent the spread of and reduce the risk of this invasive pest.

The Queensland Fruit Fly lays its eggs in many common fruits, in ‘fruiting vegetables’ and some native fruits. Inside the fruit, the growing larvae cause the flesh to rot, making it unsaleable and undesirable to eat.

To prevent this from happening, you should harvest all ripe fruit and fruiting vegetables (including tomatoes, chillies, capsicums and eggplants) from the host plants before it has a chance to fall onto the ground. You can also prune your fruit trees to a manageable height so all the fruit can be easily picked, and the trees can be protected with exclusion netting if need be.

Do not put untreated infected fruit into your compost, worm farm, council green bin or general waste bins.

If you find an infestation, collect all the affected fruit or vegetables but do not dispose of it straight away. To prevent the spread, you must sterilise it by either cooking (microwave is fine) or freezing before disposal.

Find out more about how to manage pests and weeds in Manningham.