Outbreaks of insect pests pose a serious threat to local economies and global food production, with as much as 15% of global crop production lost to herbivorous insects annually. Outbreaks of transboundary pests and diseases that affect food crops have increased in frequency in conjunction with globalization, international trade and the impacts of climate change. Indeed, increasing global temperatures are predicted to increase the distribution, rate of development, survival and population density of many pest insects. Such changes have important ramifications for host plant exploitation. The Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) is Australia’s worst horticultural pest, and is feared by international buyers of Australian produce. Like other Tephritid fruit fly species, B. tryoni has the potential to breach quarantine barriers via human mediated transport, and can rapidly establish in ‘new’ environments. This pest species is responsible for an estimated AU$28.5 million in annual yield loss, management costs and loss to domestic and international markets. Increasing and ongoing outbreaks of B. tryoni in Australia’s major growing regions has put international trade in jeopardy.