Fruit Fly Africa says several efforts are underway to eradicate the Oriental fruit fly – an exotic fruit fly native to Asia that is regarded as a pest.
A five kilometre radius in the Grabouw area in the Overberg has been placed under quarantine for the next 12 weeks.
Fruit Fly Africa Field Operations Manager Elsje Schreuder says three methods are being undertaken to ensure no additional fruit flies enter the region.
Schreuder says an insecticide is used in fruit orchards to attract the fly and once bitten, the pest will die. She says one of the key ways to ensure the removal of the Oriental fly is orchard sanitation.
Another method used is to trap the fly. She has called on farmers in the affected area to remove all fruit which has fallen from branches and vines and bury the produce.
This will make it difficult for the fly eggs to fester.
