Baiting during almond pollination
Fruit fly bait will be applied in Riverland outbreak areas by PIRSA and commercial growers, except in almond orchards when flowering.
Is the bait safe for honey bees?
Research shows that honey bees are not attracted to the bait and impacts on honey bees are minimal, especially once bait has dried.
How bait is applied
Bait is not applied onto plants in flower if bees are active. This also prevents direct application, or drift of the bait mix, onto beehives.
PIRSA will apply bait in the 200 metres around a confirmed fruit fly detection.
Commercial growers registered for the Spring Eradication Plan self-baiting program will apply bait on their own properties in outbreak areas.
Commercial growers with almond orchards who are self-baiting should contact their bee keepers prior to applying bait.
Baiting safety during pollination
To manage any risks to honey bees, commercial growers are asked when they register for self-baiting to follow the same procedures PIRSA will adopt during the different stages of flowering.
Early almond flowering period
- During the early flowering period PIRSA will bait properties, but not in almond orchards.
Peak flowering period
- PIRSA will not apply bait in almond orchards when they are in full flower.
- The risk of fruit flies being present in almond orchards at these times and under intense bee pressure is likely to be very low.
End of blossom period
- Almond growers should work with beekeepers to permit hives to be removed from orchards once pollination has finished (late August).