More than 21 million sterile fruit flies will be released over Salisbury North over the next 3 months as part of the State Government’s response to the Queensland fruit fly (Q-fly) outbreak in the area.
From today, Thursday 29 August, the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) will release Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) flies over the outbreak zone from a low flying fixed-wing plane.
The aerial releases are a 12-week pre-emptive program timed to coincide with the advent of spring, when Q-flies begin to become active again after their winter hibernation period. This is the first SIT aerial release program in metropolitan Adelaide after sterile flies were released as a preventative measure in Woodville Gardens in February and March this year.
The sterile Q-flies, once released from the plane, will breed with any remaining wild Q-flies, thereby disrupting the lifecycle.
The sterile fly pupae initially raised at the National SIT Facility in Port Augusta are then sent to be raised as adult flies at the SIT rearing facility in Barmera. The flies will depart from Renmark Airport for their Salisbury North destination.
The weekly releases are scheduled to occur on Thursday afternoons subject to weather and air traffic control.
For more information visit www.fruitfly.sa.gov.au or call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
