The Port Augusta Sterile Insect Technology (SIT) facility has released one billion sterile fruit flies over the Riverland area, as an ongoing effort to address fruit fly outbreaks in the region, which pose a significant threat to both commercial and residential horticulture.
The facility, operational since August 2022, has recently undergone a substantial expansion, enabling it to double its production of sterile Queensland fruit flies (Q-fly). From an initial 20 million flies per week, the production rate has now reached 40 million.
The SIT program operates on a simple yet effective principle: by mating sterile flies with their wild counterparts, the resultant eggs are unviable, leading to a gradual reduction in the fruit fly population. It is a method that is environmentally friendly and targets one of the most devastating horticultural pests globally, which wreaks havoc on a range of fruits and vegetables, affecting both trade and personal gardens.
Source: glamadelaide.com.au