Latest news with #fruitfly
ABC News
3 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Territory mangoes to flow back into WA as agreement reached on fruit fly
Northern Territory mangoes can freely flow into Western Australia after the regions agreed on a new fruit fly management protocol. WA suspended market access for NT mangoes in October over fruit fly concerns. A temporary program was implemented in 2024 after sudden changes to post-harvest chemical treatments in 2023. Now, a permanent agreement has been signed, which is recognised nationally and internationally. Growers are rejoicing at the new biosecurity protocols, weeks out from this year's NT mango harvest. Katherine mango grower Marie Piccone sends about 20 per cent of her mangoes to Western Australia. "I'm so relieved that we are going to have access to the Western Australia market. There are a lot of mango lovers in Western Australia who are probably quite relieved as well," Ms Piccone said. The Northern Territory is renowned for its high-quality mangoes, producing half of Australia's supply. Currently, only four varieties can be sent from the NT to WA — Honey Gold, R2E2, Calypso and Kensington Pride — but it is hoped this list will be expanded with time. Travelling to Katherine for a pre-season industry event, Barry Doran, a sales manager for a Perth-based distributor, was on the lookout to build relationships with Territory growers, where he can source more produce than from small-scale Kununurra farms. "I think it's good news for the growers that want to come in from Katherine," he said. "We probably average maybe 20 pallets a week out of Kununurra, and here we can get 20 pallets a day out of one grower in Katherine. "So consistency in volume is probably the biggest factor in WA, and that's what we need." Western Australia has strict protocols in place to prevent Queensland fruit fly incursions across its borders. In September 2023, dimethoate, used as a post-harvest treatment dip for mangoes, was suspended by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority due to excess residue levels. Mid-harvest in 2024, WA suspended NT growers over compliance issues during a trial period using the fumigator dimethyl-bromide. This left biosecurity officers and growers scrambling to find alternative agreed methods of treatment. The latest in place was vapour treatment, which is effective, but has limited capacity. Mitchael Curtis, who owns King's Farm, a few kilometres south of Katherine, last year decided not to sell to Western Australia because of the chemicals and sprays required. "We're trying to get a real good balance in our orchard of good and bad insects, then they come out and say we have to nuke the whole orchard with these horrible sprays and that mucks up our whole farming strategy," he said. "It's a decision for us; some farmers are happy to spray. "If we want to sell our fruit, we have to do what we have to do."
CNN
09-07-2025
- General
- CNN
This insect trap got rid of all the fruit flies in my apartment. I'm buying more for Prime Day
Although I love summer, one of the worst things about the season is the inevitable fruit fly infestation that takes over my apartment. Like many New York City apartment dwellers, I deal with this problem every year. I thought I had found the best fly trap — until I tried the Zevo insect trap last month. So far, it has worked like a charm, and I know for a fact that at least two other people on the CNN Underscored team swear by it, too. The best part is, the trap is currently on sale for Amazon Prime Day. This week, you can score this summertime must-have for 15% off in a bundle that includes two traps. While you're here, be sure to check out other top Prime Day deals, including beauty finds, discounts on outdoor furniture and even more summer essentials. Zevo Flying Insect Traps, 2 Bases and 2 Cartridges This Zevo flying insect trap kit comes with two plug-in bases that lure flies with their blue and UV light feature, as well as two disposable cartridges that trap the flies. It's on sale now for $32. Before I tried this trap, I used another popular Amazon insect trap for two years: the Terro trap. It's effective, and I still like it, but it took much longer to attract flies than the Zevo trap. The apple-shaped traps are pretty small, and even after I set out three of them around my apartment last summer, it still took about a week for them to trap any flies. As for the Zevo trap, I received one last year and stored it away because I didn't need it. When the number of flies started increasing in my home a few weeks ago, I pulled it out because I'd run out of Terro traps. It was super easy to install; all I had to do was peel the adhesive sheet off of the cartridge, slide the cartridge into the base and plug the base into an outlet. Once plugged in, the base emits blue light and UV light, which is what attracts the flies. I first plugged in my Zevo trap mid-June, when I got back from vacation and found my apartment crawling with more flies than I ever cared to see. I didn't expect fast results after my experience with the Terro traps. But when I looked at the cartridge after about two days, I was shocked to find that it had already caught a few flies. Nearly one month later, and I only see a fly in my home from time to time. Even when I do, I'm not worried because I know it'll eventually make its way to the trap. I've found one Zevo trap to work great for my small apartment, but I am considering grabbing another for the kitchen. This Zevo insect trap kit is the cheapest it's ever been on Amazon, so don't pass it up this Prime Day. The traps are great because they don't dispel any chemical repellents, and they're completely quiet and fuss-free. Once you plug one in, you basically forget about it and watch as the number of flies dwindles over the next few days. It does emit that soft blue light, but I like this because it functions as sort of a night light, which is convenient for late-night bathroom runs. Former CNN Underscored contributor Stacy Tornio reviewed the Zevo insect trap a few years ago, and she noted that it helps keep bugs away from houseplants. She also likes that the trap doesn't require you to insert a messy liquid solution and that it starts working within a couple of hours — features that I've noticed and like too. Now that we're deep in the middle of summer and you can score this find at a great discount, you might as well pick one up. If you have a big house, you might even opt for two kits. Grab the traps, delight in a bug-free home and thank me later. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and we ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. Associate home and gifts editor Nikol Slatinska has three years of experience covering Amazon Prime Day and has covered hundreds of home deals. For this article, she found a shop-worthy deal on her favorite insect trap.
Al Bawaba
04-07-2025
- Climate
- Al Bawaba
Fruit fly invasion from Egypt hits Tel Aviv
Published July 4th, 2025 - 12:31 GMT ALBAWABA - Concern has been raised by farmers and environmental organizations over the recent invasion of central Israel, including Tel Aviv and the surrounding agricultural areas, by large swarms of fruit flies that are native to Egypt. Hot southern breezes that brought the insect into Israel from Egypt's Nile Delta have been blamed for the unexpected breakout. Also Read Israeli soldiers killing each other amid heavy censorship in Gaza The invading bug is a variety of fruit fly that is notorious for causing damage to crops, according to confirmation from the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture. This specific species burrows into fruits and causes interior rot that makes them unsellable, attacking them before they are completely ripe. Orchards and fruit farms, particularly those that cultivate citrus, figs, and soft fruits like peaches and apricots, have already sustained significant damage, according to farmers in the impacted areas. Environmental experts are keeping a careful eye on the situation and are warning that if the fly' expansion is not stopped, it might harm local agriculture in the long run and jeopardize fruit that is suitable for export. In addition to encouraging farmers to report infestations as soon as possible, the ministry has implemented emergency pest control tactics, such as the deployment of pheromone traps and aerial spraying. — الشبيبة (@shabiba) July 3, 2025 Experts point out that containment is especially challenging because the fruit fly species in question has a brief reproductive cycle and can produce hundreds of eggs in a matter of days. Its larvae eat inside the fruit and frequently show no outward symptoms, which causes crop loss and delayed identification. Although southern breezes have historically helped agricultural pests spread between nearby nations, many farmers have been taken aback by the scope of the current outbreak. To determine the full extent of the infestation and create a longer-term control plan, the Ministry of Agriculture is working in tandem with entomologists and local authorities. In the meantime, swarms of insects have been spotted in Tel Aviv's parks, gardens, and marketplaces, causing public unease in the city. There are increasing calls for cross-border collaboration, with experts stressing that in order to stop future outbreaks, Israel and Egypt must have coordinated pest monitoring systems. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
