Western Australia is no longer able to declare itself free of the damaging and wide spread Queensland fruit fly after an infestation was discovered in Perth’s Albert Cove.
2 Male flies were discovered in the Alfred Cove residential area in surveillance traps on the 18th November whilst another 4 were captured on the 23rd November no more than 800m away from the original discovery. Of Australian states and territories only South Australia and Tasmania. Scientists are investigating the extent of the spread but already this could have damaging implications for WA’s horticulture industry including a reduction in trade to QFly free states, South Australia and Tasmania. Read the full article here.