Backyard gardeners without the time and money to control Queensland fruit fly should remove their plants to prevent the bug from impacting commercial growers.
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That is the advice coming from northern Victoria where a long-standing anti-pest initiative is in place to protect the region against infestation.
Peach and nectarine grower Michael Tempini, who is a member of the Greater Sunraysia Pest Free Area industry committee, said losing fruit trees might be upsetting for amateur gardeners, but the flies they attracted had the potential to devastate the horticulture industry.
“If people are prepared to do the yards and manage it, that's all well and good, but a home garden is a bit more than putting a plant in the ground and eating the fruit,” he said.
Mr Tempini said the bug was especially hard to manage in urban environments. While commercial orchards normally contained one type of fruit, urban areas contained several host species that bugs could target all year long.
He also said prevention strategies like traps and netting were expensive and it could be more economical just to buy fruit from the local greengrocer.
Trapping projects – every residence in the Swan Hill region was delivered a fruit fly trap late last year – had reduced the incidence of fruit fly infestation, Mr Tempini said.
“But it hasn't fully eradicated [the flies]. It's almost like people think it's going to be a bullet,” he said.
A tree removal program in the state’s north has also seen about 800 plants felled.
Many Bendigo gardeners this week reported their produce being infiltrated for the second consecutive year.
Membership of Facebook group Bendigo Region Fruit Fly has tripled this week since a Bendigo Advertiser story about the bug’s damage to local crops.
Its members are discussing how they can take advantage of a state government grants scheme funding anti-fruit fly measures.
Agriculture minister Jaala Pulford announced the fund in December, giving businesses and communities the chance to apply for grants of up to $5000.
“Managing fruit fly is everyone’s responsibility and these grants are enabling industry and the community to take ownership on issues relevant to their region,” Ms Pulford said in December.
For more information on managing fruit fly, visit http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/pest-insects-and-mites/queensland-fruit-fly/gardeners.