This project will improve pest surveillance technology through the development of female fruit fly lures.  These will aid in the detection and control of fruit fly species not attracted to the currently deployed male lures and will enhance surveillance capability for exotic fruit fly species.

What is the biosecurity problem?

There is a high risk of incursions by exotic fruit fly species that are not responsive to currently deployed lures. The high risk areas include Australian horticultural production zones which are, at present, free from these species.

The main outputs of this project are to:

• develop new lures for female fruit flies based on the science that identifies the attractive components of these lures
• develop improved trapping efficiency to reduce costs associated with the deployment and servicing of female fruit fly traps
• develop an effectively designed female fruit fly monitoring system that is cheaper and easier to maintain than the current McPhail trap system, and
• develop an improved trapping tool on which to base a more effective early warning system for incursions of exotic fruit flies that will protect current markets for Australian fresh horticultural produce.

Who will be the end-users of this research?

The main users of any new female fly lure technology will be government agencies (i.e. state departments of Primary Industries/Agriculture and NAQS) who are responsible for detecting incursions of fruit fly; and fruit growers who are seeking to monitor and manage endemic fruit fly populations.  The project has the potential to deliver a valuable tool that will give increased certainty in declaring area freedom from fruit flies and will provide information to the various fruit fly Codes of Practice and Interstate Certification Assurances that govern interstate movement of fruit fly host produce.