A detection of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) in Como and South Perth has triggered an active eradication response by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
A Quarantine Area was established on 17 April 2026, comprising a Red Zone, where intensive eradication activities and movement controls apply, and an Orange Zone, which serves as an Export Assurance Zone. Response activities include surveillance, baiting using the registered organic bait Naturalure, property inspections and community engagement to prevent the pest from spreading further.
Queensland fruit fly is an invasive pest that attacks more than 300 species of fruit and vegetables and poses a significant threat to Western Australia’s horticultural industries, market access and home-grown produce. Female flies lay eggs beneath the skin of host fruit and fruiting vegetables. The larvae feed within the fruit before dropping to the ground to pupate in the soil and emerge as adult flies.
Residents and businesses within the Red Zone must comply with quarantine requirements, including:
- Removing ripe and ripening host fruit and fruiting vegetables from plants every three days.
- Collecting and disposing of fallen fruit immediately after treatment.
- Consuming fruit immediately or treating it before disposal in general waste.
- Not moving host fruit or fruiting vegetables within or out of the Red Zone unless they have been treated in accordance with DPIRD requirements.
For the latest information, including quarantine maps and movement requirements, visit wa.gov.au/qfly or email qfly@dpird.wa.gov.au.