Explanation

Fruit Flies

By:Faith

Fruit flies are destroying and harming our vegetation.  These insects are stopping New Zealand from selling our best products globally.  Many countries will not buy New Zealand’s fruits or vegetables if fruit and vegetables are infested with fruit flies. It will affect our economy. We need to get rid of these fruit flies and destroy them. The job of eradicating fruit flies is harder than you think.

MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) are asking everyone, not to remove any fruit, vegetables or garden waste in the affected area. If you are to take fruits or vegetables out of your home only take store bought fruits and vegetables, but not home grown. These are only true in the affected area. Don’t move these off your property, only the secure bins given from the Ministry for Primary Industries are situated 200 metres away. If you think you have seen or found any fruit flies note down the location, catch a sample if you can and dial MPI. Freephone 0800 80 99 66.

Fruit Flies lay eggs only in ripening fruit.

Be extra careful with all fruits and vegetables including: Tomato, Capsicum, Pumpkin, Marrow, Courgette, Avocado, Olives and Eggplant. Berries and even weeds and trees. Fleshy fruits nuts like walnut and macadamia.

If you see or find maggots in ripe fruit put the fruit in a plastic container and crumple up several tissue paper, put the lid on.