Step 3 – Monitor the Qfly

In order to successfully manage any insect pest, it is important to know where they are, and when.

Making predictions about Qfly population dynamics and behaviour is complex, even though we can draw some general conclusions from looking at the landscape and understanding how the pest behaves. Monitoring can tell us about general trends and the effectiveness of any program – but it is still difficult to know exactly how many flies you are dealing with, or predict what Qfly numbers will be across a season. That’s why it is important for monitoring to be ongoing and updated regularly.

There may be an existing grid for the region, but your own monitoring will give you a better indication of patterns specifically on your property. Additionally, your records may add to a broader understanding of the fly across the region.

Qfly generally follows seasonal patterns. A well designed monitoring grid that considers Qfly behaviour in line with its hosts and habitats can increase your chance of catching flies when they first emerge after winter.
To improve your monitoring from year to year, keep track of where you found flies and at what time of year or season.