Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

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.


1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world