Bait Medfly now, growers told

The insecticide fenthion will not be available for use after October, when the 12-month phase-out period ends.

Department of Agriculture and Food senior research officer Sonya Broughton said baiting and other complementary control measures would be imperative this season. Many growers had already transitioned away from using fenthion and were successfully controlling Medfly using a combination of methods.

“It is vital growers are baiting early as fruit develops to manage numbers while they are low,” Ms Broughton said.