Representatives of Chile's Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) have met with Carolina Torres, the agricultural secretary of the Maule region, following the discovery of a spotted wing drosophila.

The detection of the damaging pest - a scourge of the country's blueberry growers - was made in Colbún, in the center of the region.

A plan of action was coordinated and measures were drawn up during the meeting. A control zone covering an area 4km around the point of detection has been established.

Farmers have been informed about what measures they will need to take to avoid the pest affecting their crops.

The pest was also found in the southern La Araucanía region in late May 2017, after which SAG inspectors in the Maule region increased the number of traps, which are checked every 7 to 10 days.

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