None of the insect pests have been found on fruit collected from properties near where the male fly was discovered.

The male fly was discovered in a surveillance trap near the Town Basin on Tuesday and formally identified the following day.

The control zone was set up last week, centred on the property in Grey Lynn where the male fly was found last Monday.

Sixty biosecurity field staff are closely monitoring all properties within 200 metres of where a single male fly was caught in a surveillance trap.

Winners and losers alike among the males flew away, but only to die.

But Scott says if only male flies are released, the technique is more effective.

So lacking, indeed, were the blows in force, that the male flew directly at his face.

The fond male flew to a knot-hole in an old apple-tree, and coaxed her to his side.

Dr Duthie said in total, 10 male flies were detected, but biosecurity officials found no evidence of a breeding population.

That is the one reason why the males fly about so boldly, showing their glossy uniforms with the red and gold epaulets.

The exclusion zone around the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn was in place, with almost 200 pheromone traps designed to trap male flies.

I was standing above this plot one day, when a magnificent red male flew just beneath my feet and drank at a little pool.