The Ministry for Primary Industries operates a national surveillance programme to detect fruit flies. In January 2014, a single male Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) was detected in a Whangarei cue lure trap. MPI initiated a response to this detection to determine if a population was present. A field laboratory was set up at Whangarei with containment capability within 24 hours of a response declaration. MPI led the response, working closely with AsureQuality who managed the field operations. This presentation gives an overview of the entomology function in this response.