Queensland Fruit Fly Essay

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The Queensland fruit fly is significant pest for many states and attacks a wide range of plants which decreases the production and making fruits inedible. This has large consequences for the local and international fruit and vegetable trade. The most common way that the Queensland fruit fly spread to new areas is by being carried interstate by infested fruit and vegetables. This fruit fly has a large potential to infest a large range of crops, garden plants, native plants and weeds. The female Queensland fruit fly is the main pest as it lays eggs inside of many fruits. The larvae then hatch of the fruit and eat the inside of the fruit which in turn destroys the fruit and deems it inedible. The larvae then shelter themselves in soil until they are fully formed flies. They then repeat the cycle and breed into fruits. …show more content…

This means that their fruit and vegetable industry is not only valuable to their state, but to the entire nation. Horticultural producers have a large amount of access to international export marks especially with New Zealand, Germany and Japan which are estimated to be worth $87 million a year. This access would not be available without the quarantine of the Queensland fruit fly. The citrus industry in particular saves a $4.2 billion a year due to the limited need for pesticides and any other pest controls. The Queensland fruit fly has outbreaks every couple of years, although they have been successful with its removal every time. South Australia remains under threat from a large number of fruit fly outbreaks throughout the state, so it is essential that prevention, detection and eradication measures continue so that the risk can be

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