AGRICULTURE Victoria’s statewide fruit fly co-ordinator Cathy Mansfield is urging Victorian home gardeners to take extra steps this summer to protect their produce from Queensland fruit fly (QFF).

“Plants like tomatoes crop for months, so it’s important to protect them for the entire season,” she said.

“Remove damaged fruit on trees, vines or on the ground, as it might be harbouring fruit fly.

“Each female fruit fly can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime, so every maggot you destroy helps save your own crops and your neighbours’, along with helping to protect horticultural producers.”

QFF can breed in many other home garden crops that are present in mid-summer such as peaches, nectarines and berries, with fruit becoming increasingly attractive as it ripens.

“Keep damaged fruit out of the compost - the warm and humid conditions create the perfect environment to rear a new generation of flies,” Ms Mansfield said.

Other ongoing preventative measures include netting crops, with regular checks essential to ensure they’re tightly secured and haven’t been damaged by branches.

“Ask for fine insect netting at your hardware store or garden centre - the holes are approximately two millimetres in diameter, rather than bird netting which QFF can get through,” Ms Mansfield said.

More tips are available via the Agriculture Victoria website.