Spring jobs to tackle Queensland Fruit Fly are:
Practice good garden hygiene: Pick fruit and vegetables as they ripen and any fallen fruit. If the fruit has QFF eggs or larvae in it place it in a sealed plastic bag and leave it in the sun for five to seven days to destroy them. Do not add unwanted fruit to your compost or worm farm as the larvae will hatch.
Regular monitoring: Most fruit is attacked by QFF as the fruit matures so regular monitoring is important. You can do this by using traps or by checking for fruit damage or stings on fruit surfaces.
Baiting and trapping: Traps and baits targeting QFF before they attack fruit can be purchased from hardware stores, nurseries and online. Look for traps that will kill both female and male flies. Traps can also be home made (there are recipes on the web).
Exclusion: Place insect netting over trees and plants to prevent QFF reaching the fruit. Nets are available from your local nursery or hardware retailer.
Insecticide control: Insecticides can be used to kill adult QFF, again these are available from local chemical or home garden retailers.
Combining different control methods and coordinating efforts with neighbours provides the greatest chance of success.
