As we are nearing the end of winter, Biosecurity New Zealand’s fruit fly response in the Northcote area is about to step up again, with the focus on maintaining controls and resuming baiting and more intensive trapping.
Since 26 April, an area of Northcote has been under a Controlled Area Notice, restricting the movement of certain fruits and vegetables out of controlled areas to help prevent the spread of any fruit flies still in the area.
Along with the continued movement restrictions, a network of fruit fly surveillance traps which attract male fruit flies have remained in the area over winter and were regularly checked, with the last single male fruit fly detected in the current controlled area on 15 July.
People in Northcote will be given advanced notice if bait is to be placed in their property, and they will be provided with detailed information about the bait and what’s happening.
Detailed maps of the controlled areas and a full description of the boundaries, and full information about the current situation can be found at www.biosecurity.govt.nz/fruitfly