Quarantine Area
The Quarantine Area (QA) covers a 15kms radius from the Qfly detection points and includes Perth, Belmont, Gosnells, Kalamunda, Vincent, Joondalup, Swan, Wanneroo, Melville, Canning, Bayswater, South Perth, Subiaco, Stirling, Nedlands, Bassendean, Belmont, Claremont, Victoria Park, Cambridge and Mundaring. Please find the full Quarantine Area Notice on the right-hand side of this webpage.
The QA is divided into two main zones: the Corrective Action Zone and the Export Assurance Zone. Please click on your street in the map below to see which area your property is in.
Corrective Action Zone
The Corrective Action Zone is the 1.5 km area surrounding each detection point.
Residents located within this zone are required to comply with the following QA requirements:
- Qfly host fruit cannot be removed from or moved within any part of the Corrective Action Zone , unless treated or processed (cooked, frozen or solarised).
- All ripe or ripening host fruit on plants or trees must be picked, and all fallen host fruit must be removed every three days.
- Fruit can be eaten, or must be treated, bagged and then binned in residential waste bins.
- Residents must provide DPIRD personnel access to their premises to inspect and bait host plants twice a week until further notice.
Baiting within the Corrective Action Zone
Premises and street trees within the Corrective Action Zone will be baited regularly with an organic insecticide bait called Naturalure® for more information about this product please download the product information factsheets to the right-hand side of this page.
Trapping within the Corrective Action Zone
DPIRD will place various types of traps in the area to undertake surveillance and management activities. These traps will be clearly marked and may contain small amounts pheromones (to attract the Qfly) and insecticide. If you see a trap, don't touch them! They have a very important job to do!
Monitoring and surveillance within the Corrective Action Zone
DPIRD will have personnel moving through the area, undertaking inspections of Qfly host fruit trees and plants, both in public areas and in private backyards.
Under the Biosecurity and Agricultural Management Act 2007, DPIRD may request access to private backyards. Owners or occupiers must provide DPIRD personnel access to conduct trapping, inspections and baiting.
DPIRD staff will not ask to access you house or sheds and will have identification that you can ask to see.
Export Assurance Zone
The Export Assurance Zone covers the area in a 15 km radius from the detection point - the area of the QA that is not part of the Corrective Action Zone. The area will act as a buffer zone to further prevent further spread of the pest.
The requirements for the management of Qfly host fruit for this area are less stringent but commercially grown Qfly host fruit cannot move either within the QA or outside the QA unless it is treated.
What these restrictions mean for commercial fruit growers within Export Assurance Zone
- Commercial grown Qfly host fruit can move from the QA to the outside area if the following actions have been undertaken:
- Notify DPIRD at least 24h prior.
- Fruit is treated.
- Securely packaged, stored and transported.
- Qfly host fruit can move from the QA to the outside area to be processed i.e., to be made into jam or wine, if the following actions have been undertaken:
- Notify DPIRD at least 24h prior.
- Securely packaged, stored and transported.
- Qfly host fruit grown outside of the QA can move through the QA if it is securely packaged.
- Commercially grown Qfly host fruit can move within the QA if the following actions have been undertaken:
- Notify DPIRD at least 24h prior.
- Fruit is treated.
- Qfly host fruit that has already been processed on-farm can move without restrictions.
Treatment and secure transport options
Treatment options include:
1. Fumigation with Methyl Bromide
Two hours at the following rates
Flesh temp (°C) MeBr (g/m3
21–31.9 32
17–20.9 40
2. Cold Treatment
Treated at either:
- 0°C for at least 14 days
- 1°C for at least 16 days (lemon at 14 days)
- 2°C for at least 18 days (lemon at 16 days
- 3°C for at least 20 days (lemon at 18 days)
3. Harvested in a mature green condition, undamaged skin
4. Removal of fruit and berries from host plants
Secure conditions include:
- Unvented packages
- Vented packages with gaps no larger than 1.6 mm
- contained in a screened building, cold room, truck, transport depot distribution centre or other containment which has gaps no larger than 1.6 mm.
- Continuous cold storage
- Vents secured with mesh or liner sheets.
These requirements will continue until eradication and pest freedom has been re-established.
If you own a horticultural business within the QA and you would like more advice, please contact Colin Gordon on (08) 9368 3659 m/ 0429 884 746 or Colin.Gordon@dpird.wa.gov.au
Why is it important to keep Western Australia free from Qfly?
Qfly is a major agricultural pest that is highly invasive, infesting more than 300 species of cultivated fruits and vegetables.
Maintaining Qfly Area Freedom provides WA growers access to export markets, such as avocados to Japan and strawberries to Thailand, and allows for continued enjoyment of home-grown fruit and vegetables.
Other impacts include the increased use of pesticides and a reduction or loss in our ability to grow and enjoy fruits and vegetables in our backyard.
Has WA successfully eradicated Qfly before?
Western Australia has been highly successful at eradicating previous Qfly incursions with the cooperation of local communities and industry, and by efforts of the experienced incident response staff at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
Qfly has been has eradicated from the Perth metropolitan area on eight occasions since 1989.
What steps can I take to help prevent Qfly from infesting my backyard fruit and vegetables?
By following these steps, you can reduce the risk of Qfly infestations in your backyard.
- Keep an eye on your fruit trees, vegetable garden and ornamental host plants. Regularly inspect host plants for signs of Qfly damage including small holes, or the presence of larvae/maggots
- Report suspect Qfly via the MyPestGuide® Reporter app or by contacting the Pest and Disease Information Service on 9368 3080 or email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au.
- Garden hygiene – pick up and dispose of fallen fruit. Fallen fruit is a prime breeding ground for fruit flies, so it is important to pick up and dispose of any fallen fruit as soon as possible.
- Use netting – covering your fruit trees with fine netting can help prevent fruit flies from accessing the fruit. Ensure netting is kept off the ground to prevent Qfly from completing their life cycle in the ground.