Home Gardener FAQ

The Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) is a highly destructive agricultural pest native to eastern Australia. Female flies lay their eggs inside ripening fruit and vegetables. Once hatched, the maggots feed on the flesh, turning it into inedible, rotting mush. It is one of the most significant threats to Australia's horticulture industry.

Check for tiny puncture marks or "stings" (the size of a pinhead) and soft, discolored, or bruised patches on the skin. The definitive test is to cut the fruit open; look and feel through the center for small, creamy-white larvae (maggots) that may be wriggling around.

To dispose of fruit infested with Queensland Fruit Fly, you must kill the eggs and larvae before throwing it out. Never put untreated fruit in your compost, worm farm, or green/FOGO bin, as this allows the insects to breed and spread.

To protect your fruit from the Queensland fruit fly (QFF) in Victoria, exclusion netting and fine mesh fruit bags are the most reliable physical barriers. There are a range of bait and cover sprays available on the market.