Restrictions are in place after a second type of fruit fly was found in a surveillance trap in the South Auckland suburb of Ōtara today.
The insect, a facialis fruit fly, is a different species to that of the Queensland fruit fly found last week , and its detection is not linked to the incursion currently underway in Auckland's Devonport, Biosecurity New Zealand said in a statement.
The lone male fruit fly, native to Tonga and known for badly affecting capsicum and chilli crops, was formally identified late yesterday.
The fly is a tropical fruit fly species, meaning New Zealand's climate may not provide an ideal home for it, Ministry for Primary Industries director general Ray Smith said.
"As with the fruit fly in Devonport, we need to determine if it's a lone specimen or if there's a population of these flies in the area.
"To do this, we're setting more traps in the area around the find. And while we look for more flies, we have restricted the movement of fruit and vegetables to stop the spread of any other facialis fruit flies that may be out there."
No further facialis fruit flies have been found at this stage, and there is no indication of an invasion of the fly in the Ōtara region.
Biosecurity New Zealand has declared a controlled area around the location where the facialis fly was discovered.
Whole fresh fruit and vegetables - excluding leafy and root vegetables - cannot be moved outside of the A Zone of the controlled area, extending 200 metres from where the fly was found, during this time. Homegrown vegetables cannot be moved out of a wider B Zone.
Locals who believe they have seen signs of the fruit fly or its larvae - which looks like white rice grains - in fruit have been advised to contact the response team on 0800 809 966.
Field crews will install road signs and distribute other information materials to the public in the coming days.
The operation is expected to last two to three weeks if there is no further detections of the fly, Mr Smith said.
SHARE ME