The State Government has mobilised a specialist response team to eradicate a new outbreak of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) in Coolbellup.
It follows the detection of a single female Qfly in a surveillance trap which forms part of the State's early warning system for the fruit pest. Diagnostics confirmed the female fly was carrying eggs, which triggered the emergency response.
Qfly is one of the world's worst fruit pests, attacking a range of fruits and some fruiting vegetables. It is found in some other parts of Australia but Western Australia is free of this significant pest.
The new detection is outside of the State's existing Qfly response which is on track to eradicate the pest from Perth's western suburbs, centred on Dalkeith, Claremont and Nedlands.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development response staff have commenced additional trapping and inspections in Coolbellup, and will move to bait spraying and stripping fruit from host plants within a 200m radius of the Qfly detection.
Local residents and businesses are being called on to help support the State's effort to stamp out the pest. Access to private yards with host plants and trees is critical, and residents will be contacted this week to arrange access for these activities.
A quarantine area will also be applied to restrict the movement of any home grown fresh fruit or fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, chillies or capsicums out of the area and prevent potential spread of the pest.
A map of the quarantine area which encompasses all properties within 1.5km of the detection is available at https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/plant-biosecurity/queensland-fruit-fly-outbreak-coolbellup
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Western Australia has been highly successful at eradicating previous incursions of Qfly with the co-operation of local communities and our experienced incident response effort.
"Just as we are demonstrating with COVID-19, it is important to jump on every incursion of this pest at the first opportunity to stamp it out.
"Thanks to a massive response effort this last year, we remain on track to eradicate Qfly from Perth's western suburbs and can pivot our response to ensure this new detection is dealt with swiftly."
