Fruit fly found in Grey Lynn: ban in place

Photo / Newstalk ZB

A fruit fly has been found in Auckland.

The Ministry for Primary Industries is putting up signs in the suburb of Grey Lynn asking people not to move any fresh fruit or vegetables beyond the area.

MPI has confirmed the single male Queensland fruit fly was caught in a surveillance trap.

Restrictions on the movement of fruit and some vegetables outside a 1.5km zone around Grey Lynn have been put in place by MPI.

The circular controlled area takes in parts of Grey Lynn, Western Springs, Mt Albert, Ponsonby and Kingsland.

Report suspected finds of the Queensland fruit fly to MPI's Pest and Diseases Hotline 0800 80 99 66.

CONTROLLED AREA RULES:

* All whole fresh fruit and vegetables, except for leafy vegetables and root vegetables, cannot be moved outside of the Controlled Area.

* Within the wider Controlled Area there is a smaller central Zone A, which takes in a circle 200 metres out from the initial find, and whole fruit and vegetables cannot be moved outside of this zone at all.

* Fruit and vegetables can continue to be transported from outside the Controlled Area into the Controlled Area.

* Residents are asked to avoid composting any risk fruits and vegetables. For disposing of fruit and vegetable waste, they are encouraged to use a sink waste disposal unit if possible.

* MPI will be providing special bins in the Controlled Area for the disposal of fruit and vegetable waste. The locations of these bins will be advised shortly.

SOME FACTS:

• The Queensland fruit fly is a native of Australia where it is considered to be the country's most serious insect pest of fruit and vegetable crops.

• The fruit fly has been detected three times before in New Zealand - in Whangarei in 1995 and in Auckland in 1996 and 2012. In all cases increased surveillance found no further sign of the pest.

• Air and sea passengers are prohibited from bringing fresh fruit and vegetables into New Zealand.

• Fruit flies eat ripened fruit and vegetables. Eggs which female fruit flies lay on fruit hatch into larvae which find dark places where they grow six legs and wings before emerging as adults.

• Larvae of fruit flies develop in moist areas where organic material and standing water are present. The entire life cycle lasts 25 days or more depending on the environmental conditions and the availability of food.