Find and report fruit fly
Find out how to identify fruit fly in your fruit and vegetables, and report any findings.
Signs in fruit and vegetables
Bruising or blemishes
Check the outside of your fruit and vegetables for bruises or blemishes, indicating it has been stung by a fruit fly.
Maggots
Check the inside of your fruit and vegetables by cutting them open and looking for tiny white larvae (maggots) wriggling around, indicating it has been infected by fruit fly. You are more likely to see maggots than fruit fly.
Vinegar flies are tiny, dark, and harmless – you do not need to report them. These are often seen around fruit in your fruit bowl, in compost, or in shops.
Seal and report suspected fruit fly
Reporting fruit fly helps us know if there is a breeding population so we can act quickly to eradicate an outbreak.
If you find maggots, or anything wriggling that you're not sure about:
- Seal the fruit in a plastic bag or container.
- Contact the 24-hour Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010 to report suspicious findings. We will arrange testing.
Do not freeze any collected fruit flies, larvae, or produce as this will impair our testing.
