Sterile fruit fly squadron descends on SA

Hundreds of thousands of sterile fruit flies will fall from skies over Adelaide to cut the numbers of the pest.

A squadron led by hundreds of thousands of sterile fruit flies will take the fight to the damaging pest to combat a recent outbreak in Adelaide.

The flies will be released from a plane flying over the region on Friday in a trial aimed at reducing Queensland fruit fly numbers.

"The new sterile insect technology could be a game changer for Australian horticulture," Agriculture Minister Littleproud said.

Sterlie insect technology has been effective in California and Guatemala.

A release of two million male sterile fruit flies is planned for April following recent incursions in South Australia, including an outbreak in Adelaide's west in January.