A fruit fly has reportedly been found in Auckland.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is putting up signs in the suburb of Sandringham, NewstalkZB reported.
The signs are asking people not to move any fresh fruit or vegetables beyond the area.
MPI has confirmed a fruit fly has been found and will release more details shortly.
The fly was collected Monday and formally identified late yesterday.
MPI Chief Operations Officer, Andrew Coleman, said only the one male insect has been trapped and it did not mean New Zealand has an outbreak of fruit fly.
"The Queensland fruit fly has been detected five times before in northern New Zealand - in Whangarei and in Auckland. In all cases MPI carried out thorough surveillance and no further flies were found."
Mr Coleman says MPI has responded swiftly and field teams are starting work today setting additional fruit fly lure traps to determine if other flies are present in the area, and if other flies are there, preventing any spread of the pest out of the area.
"It is vital to find out if this insect is a solitary find or if there is a wider population in Auckland.
"This insect, if established here, could have serious consequences for New Zealand's horticultural industry. It can damage a wide range of fruit and vegetables and could lead to restrictions on trade in some of our horticultural exports."
Report suspected finds of the Queensland fruit fly to MPI's Pest and Diseases Hotline 0800 80 99 66.
Fruit fly facts:
• The Queensland fruit fly is a native of Australia where it is considered to be the country's most serious insect pest of fruit and vegetable crops.
• The fruit fly has been detected three times before in New Zealand - in Whangarei in 1995 and in Auckland in 1996 and 2012. In all cases increased surveillance found no further sign of the pest.
• Air and sea passengers are prohibited from bringing fresh fruit and vegetables into New Zealand.
• Fruit flies eat ripened fruit and vegetables. Eggs which female fruit flies lay on fruit hatch into larvae which find dark places where they grow six legs and wings before emerging as adults.
• Larvae of fruit flies develop in moist areas where organic material and standing water are present. The entire life cycle lasts 25 days or more depending on the environmental conditions and the availability of food.
- Newstalk ZB
