Hi-tech Traps On Trial In Fruit Fly Surveillance Programme

Biosecurity New Zealand’s National Fruit Fly Surveillance programme is trialling 60 state-of-the-art traps, with the aim to bolster the detection of exotic fruit fly.

“We have a world-class biosecurity system, but the growth in global trade and travel increases the opportunity for fruit flies to enter the country,” says Biosecurity New Zealand Director Diagnostic & Surveillance Services Veronica Herrera.

“Exotic fruit fly incursions could significantly impact New Zealand’s horticulture industry, so early detection is critical.”

The fruit fly surveillance programme runs from September to July each year to coincide with the heightened risk of fruit flies entering New Zealand. More than 7,800 traps are currently stationed across the country.

Biosecurity New Zealand has found the Queensland fruit fly half a dozen times in surveillance traps and has successfully eradicated it each time.

This season, 60 additional RapidAIM traps have been deployed across 11 Auckland suburbs to target the Queensland fruit fly (QFF). The hi-tech traps are on trial from the Australian company RapidAIM. Sensors in the traps evaluate the behaviour of insects entering the unit. An algorithm then predicts whether it is a QFF. If detected, an alert identifies the trap location, enabling a field officer to collect the sample within 48 hours.

“The chief benefit of the RapidAIM system is the possibility of an immediate notification of a suspect QFF,” Ms Herrera says.

Biosecurity New Zealand began working with RapidAIM in 2020 to see if the traps were compatible with the New Zealand environment and cellular network. Wider introduction of the traps will be dependent on the success of trials and is some years off. In the meantime, work is ongoing to develop sensors that could detect all economically important exotic fruit flies.

“We want to embrace the new technology to reduce costs and respond to incursions immediately, but we must be certain that the sensitivity and efficacy is as good or better than what we are currently using. Our goal is to make surveillance operations more effective and efficient.”

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) surveillance programme also got under way this month. Like exotic fruit fly, BMSB also poses a threat to New Zealand horticulture industry.

Biosecurity New Zealand will monitor traps at 86 high-risk sites during the BMSB season, which runs from November to April.

Anyone who thinks they have found an exotic fruit fly or a BMSB is asked to catch it, take a photo and report it online or by calling the Biosecurity New Zealand hotline on 0800 80 99 66.

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