The outbreak was confirmed following detection of Mediterranean fruit fly larvae in home grown peaches at a property in Woodville North.

A 1.5 kilometre quarantine area has been declared around the detection site.

Suburbs affected include Woodville North, Woodville, Woodville Park, Woodville Gardens, Mansfield Park, Ferryden Park, Croydon Park and Kilkenny.

PIRSA Biosecurity Compliance and Surveillance manager Bruce Baker says it’s important that all people in this area do not remove fresh fruit, fruiting vegetables or garden waste from their properties during the eradication program.

“This includes tomatoes, capsicums, chillies, eggplant, stone fruits, pomefruits, citrus, loquats and table grapes. These are potential hosts for the pest and the movement of fruit and vegetables during the quarantine period could start new outbreaks,” he said.

“Home grown fruit and fruiting vegetables can only be removed from the quarantine area if they have been cooked or processed.

“PIRSA has maintained a strong community awareness program around fruit fly and I’d like to praise the householder who rang the Fruit Fly Hotline and reported the larvae. This early detection means we can act quickly and minimise the impact on the State.”

Mr Baker says a two-week program of organic bait spotting will be followed by the release of sterile fruit flies into the area.

“Residents and businesses within the quarantine area are being notified about the outbreak through a leaflet distribution and media advertisements,” he said.

“The quarantine will be enforced until the completion of the eradication program which is anticipated to take about 12 weeks."

Householders and property owners in the quarantine zone are asked to provide PIRSA’s fruit fly eradication teams with access to their properties, to check their backyard fruit and vegetables.

The outbreaks of fruit fly in metropolitan Adelaide, Mildura and other parts of Victoria means it is critical that people travelling over the long weekend do not take fruit and vegetables into the Riverland and do not bring fruit and vegetables back in from interstate.

Any maggots found in fruit or vegetables can be reported to the 24-hour Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.