Tips to Identify and Prevent Fruit Fly
What Fruit Fly and Maggots Look Like
What fruit fly does to fruit and vegetables
Female fruit flies sting fruit and vegetables at risk from fruit fly to lay their eggs. The eggs develop into maggots, which feed off the fruit, making it rotten.
Infected fruit drops to the ground and the maggots bury into the soil, where they become pupae. They then emerge from the soil as adult flies.
Find out more on the lifecycle of a fruit fly (PDF 1.8 MB).
Seal and report any suspected fruit fly
If you find maggots or anything wriggling that you’re not sure about, seal the fruit in a plastic bag or container.
Contact the 24-hour Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010 to report any suspicious findings.
Reporting fruit fly helps us know if there is a breeding population so we can act quickly to eradicate an outbreak.
Preventing Fruit Fly
Follow PIRSA’s gardening tips to prevent fruit fly:
o Pick – Promptly pick your ripe fruit and vegetables. Prune fruit trees so you can pick more easily next season.
o Collect – Collect fallen fruit.
o Check – Check your fruit for blemishes and maggots.
o Call – If you suspect fruit fly, seal the fruit in a plastic bag and call the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
Dispose of fruit and vegetables in RED bins .