1. Co - funded by the federal government through Horticulture Innovation Australia

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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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