Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

SITplus Update 6 March 2019 Dan Ryan Program Director, SITplus Partnership Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

What is SIT? Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

What is SITplus? Consortium of research organisations and a funder– Hort Innovation Shared purpose to develop SIT for Queensland Fruit Fly Phase I – developing knowledge, building capacity and capability Phase II - Five projects - integrated, holistic approach Factory Pilot; Release Pilot; Male-only breeding program; Gene discovery project; Supporting science program. Extensive stakeholder engagement and extension Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

Why use SIT Technology suited to low population only Sterile flies search out last wild flies Bait and sprays more effective with higher populations Means effective population control, prevents reoccurrence of outbreak from remaining flies Proven eradication tool = trade partner confidence Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

The SIT factory Constructed Staff hired Flies being produced Currently producing bi-sex line at 20 million pupae per week Planned capacity of 50 million pupae per week Fully operational this year Male-only to come Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

Release pilot Improve Qfly management in south eastern Australia Develop effective operational SIT program Assess and quantify the impact of program Provide confidence around frequently asked questions; bi-sex releases – female stings? Sterile flies in traps? Identification of sterile vs wild flies? Will the sterile flies find the wild flies? Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

Release sites and models This season Lindsay Island, Vic; prophylactic release Loxton, SA; outbreak eradication Cobram, Vic; urban suppression Next Season Hillston, NSW; Area-wide management Lindsay Island, Vic, prophylactic release Outbreaks?; eradication Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

Identification Fluorescent dyes Stable isotopes – 100% ID in recent blind tests Rapid verification of irradiation kit (wings only γH2AX monoclonal antibodies study) Supported by peer-reviewed, published science Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

Fly activity SA Outbreak in Loxton, SA Adult catch on Feb 7, reset clock Rear-out centre established in Loxton SIT commenced In four weeks Mar 1, no flies trapped in Riverland outside current suspension area Riverland PFA access to China and Indonesia suspended Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

Fly activity Tasmania WA Tas Mainland outbreak past suspension but some markets still closed Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand have recognised the reinstatement of PFA No reported Tas mainland trap catch Had one intercept of imported fruit with larvae Flinders Island under outbreak till April WA No current outbreak Tas No outbreak but 3 flies caught in Auckland Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

Thank you Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia