Naturalure
In response to Queensland fruit fly outbreaks, PIRSA is working with commercial Riverland growers
toward eradication.
To support this, PIRSA is supplying free bait to commercial growers in red outbreak areas (1.5km around
a confirmed fruit fly detection). PIRSA will continue treating areas 200m around a confirmed fruit fly
detection.
Check if you’re in a red outbreak area by searching your address on the outbreak map.
Produce at risk
Some common produce at risk from fruit fly include:
- citrus
- stone fruit
- pome fruit including quinces
- grapes
- avocado
- tropical fruits and some fruiting vegetables including tomato, eggplant, capsicum, chili.
Please check the longer list at restricted fruit and vegetables.
Queensland fruit fly behaviour
Fruit flies become active in late winter/early spring and baiting is a critical part of the eradication program.
In addition to the list above, fruit fly also feed and rest on the leaves of a range of other trees, for example almonds. Baiting needs to target these trees, including any forming shelter belts or tree lines on properties, as well as those at risk from fruit fly stinging (laying eggs in) their fruit. This will give the best chance of eradicating fruit fly from the Riverland.
Almond pollination
Care needs to be taken when applying bait during almond pollination season to minimise honey bee impacts. Please follow the guidelines provided to you or see baiting during almond pollination.
Bait application – Naturalure
- Growers are strongly encouraged to bait for a minimum of six weeks or longer.
- Dilute Naturalure concentrate with water (see recommended rates below).
- Apply as either a band spray to the lower canopy of fruiting plants or as a spot spray to foliage.
- Take care to avoid spraying fruit as it may cause blemishing.
- In weekly spray programs, alternate tree or crop rows.
- Re-apply if rain washes bait off the foliage.
Recommended rates
IMPORTANT: This information is of a general nature and is not intended to replace the product label and safety data sheet for Naturalure. Those documents should be read in full and followed closely when applying bait.
Before applying bait read the full Naturalure label or off-label permit.
Band spraying (lower canopy)
See Naturalure Fruit Fly Bait Concentrate for instructions on the label and other documentation.
- Mix 1 part Naturalure fruit fly bait concentrate to 6.5 parts water.
- Apply in a 1 m wide band to the skirt of trees.
- Apply to one side of every row or every second row of trees.
Spot spraying (foliage)
Read the off-label permit (100 KB PDF).
- Mix 1 part Naturalure fruit fly bait concentrate to 4 parts water.
- Apply to trees and foliage according to the off-label permit (PER80719) as coarse spots of 40 ml per spot, at a maximum rate of 120 spots per hectare.
- Distribute spots evenly throughout the orchard for optimal effectiveness.
Shelter belt trees or tree lines (either band or spot spraying)
- Apply at a height of 1.5–2 m to target the areas where fruit fly forage.
- Baiting for fruit fly control should also be supplemented by good orchard management practices including prompt picking of ripe fruit, and removal and/or treatment of fallen and/or rotting fruit. This is essential to break the fruit fly life cycle.
Baiting record requirement
As a condition of receiving Naturalure from PIRSA, you are required to submit a weekly record of spray activity.
There are two ways to do this.
- Complete and submit your fruit fly baiting record online.
- Complete the hard copy baiting record you received with your bait and return it to PIRSA each week
- in person at Loxton Research Centre, 1801 Bookpurnong Road, Loxton, or
- email a photo or PDF copy to fruitfly@sa.gov.au
Guidelines
Download the guide for self-baiting ( ) including the QR code for bait recording.
More information
For market access enquiries
- email MarketAccessRenmark.aaslocal@sa.gov.au
- call the Industry Hotline on 1800 255 556