Decently critical write-up, some great reporting.
Stepping back: power required by an actual #FruitFly vs. the researchers' implementation. When we can equalize that ratio we'll have done something genuinely remarkable. Until then, below established standards.
https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/16/digital_fruit_fly_brain_model/
So I have just spent almost an hour making sure all quinces, pomegranates and apples are bagged (in net bags to stop predators like insects and animals). Golly fruit can be hard to find. You'd think quinces being brown against green leaves would be easy. But the leaves drape over the fruit. I would think I had found them all - they are not even half sized yet - then spy another. Repeat.
The pomegranates are so hardy I thought nothing would bother them, but I found one small, unripe one near the ground that had been hollowed out by something. And another that had a couple of scratches on the skin. I wonder what. I don't think rats as there are neighbourhood cats in my yard. Possum? Too low for birds I think.
More quinces and pomegranates than I was expecting this year, so nice.
Apples are so tiny now, so one large net bag covers them all until they grow a bit more.
Grapes are done.
So thankful for my garden hat that is as big as an umbrella. Almost.
🚨 🚨🚨 Male Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) detection in Mt Roskill, Auckland
6:30pm 8 January 2026 update Includes map showing control zones
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7 January 2026
"As a precautionary measure, restrictions will be put in place on the movement of fruit and vegetables out of the area. Information for the public about these controls and the exact area affected will be issued once we have completed an initial investigation.
Until then, we ask that people who live and work in the suburb not take any whole fresh fruit and vegetables out of their properties."
Biosecurity New Zealand investigating and boosting trapping after finding fruit fly in Auckland. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/news/media-releases/biosecurity-new-zealand-investigating-and-boosting-trapping-after-finding-fruit-fly-in-auckland Press Release: Biosecurity New Zealand. 7 January 2026. Scoop. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2601/S00114/biosecurity-new-zealand-investigating-and-boosting-trapping-after-finding-fruit-fly-in-auckland.htm
Details: Queensland fruit fly detection in Mt Roskill, Auckland.https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/exotic-pests-and-diseases-in-new-zealand/active-biosecurity-responses-to-pests-and-diseases/queensland-fruit-fly-detection-in-mt-roskill-auckland
Fruit fly found in Auckland suburb; restrictions in place https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/583422/fruit-fly-found-in-auckland-suburb-restrictions-in-place RNZ 7 January 2026
Also republished by
1news https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/01/07/fruit-fly-found-in-auckland-suburb-restrictions-in-place/ and NZ Herald https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/fruit-fly-found-in-auckland-suburb-restrictions-in-place/JWPENFQBRRGM3NJAIBVPGIWMPM/
#Biosecurity#Auckland #TāmakiMakaurau #MtRoskill #Aotearoa #NewZealand
Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Mt Roskill, says Biosecurity New Zealand commissioner north, Mike Inglis. The restrictions follow the detection of a single male Queensland fruit fly in a surveillance trap in the area.
I know that authorities blame beekeepers who post #QueenBees through the mail, or moving infected hives when told not to - but - I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the spread of the mite is agricultural #sabotage from outside Australia.
There are countries who would love to see our crops fail & either step in to replace our produce on the international markets or sell theirs to us.
Apparently it’s #FlyDay or #DrosophilaDay in honour of the day Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly or vinegar fly line w1118 (the first variant with the white eyes) was isolated, so enjoy some drosophila #sciart! This print highlights the model organism with a ring of 5 of the different eye colour genetic mutations.
A species of fly (the taxonomic order Diptera) in the family Drosophilidae, D. melanogaster is used as a model organism 🧵1/2
Doug Bostrom
Ganga
Lin Nah
John 
Ele Willoughby, PhD
Peter Barnes
Kät´n´Toots (she/her)
Universität Münster
Marco
Cato