Completed project
Correlating fruit fly with cherry production and climate (CY13012)
Publication date: February 5, 2017
Delivery Partner: NSW Department of Primary Industries
The presence Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) precludes cherries from entry to a number of interstate and international markets. While Tasmania is internationally recognised as a Qfly Pest Free Area, mainland cherry growing regions do not have equivalent zones. This is in spite of the fact that some regions could be considered Qfly free for cherry production due to regional management systems, terrain or climate. In particular, some areas suitable for cherry production see weather conditions during cherry growth and harvest that prevent fruit fly infestation.
In order to support applications for market access based climatic or seasonal freedom from Qfly, this project developed models that can be used to predict Qfly populations post-winter throughout Australia.
Four models were developed based on three factors:
Models can be used by the cherry industry in two ways:
Although based on cherries and Qfly, the models developed for this project can be applied to any crop and modified to suit any pest or disease that is dependent on weather.
In addition to the models, this research generated an improved understanding of:
This project was a strategic levy investment in the Hort Innovation Cherry Fund
© 2026 Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited.
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