Pest insects

Pest insects can have adverse and damaging impacts on agricultural production and market access, the natural environment, and our lifestyle. Pest insects may cause problems by damaging crops and food production, parasitising livestock, or being a nuisance and health hazard to humans.

Western Australia is free from some of the world's major pest insects. Biosecurity measures on your property are vital in preventing the spread of insects.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provides:

biosecurity/quarantine measures at the WA border to prevent the entry of pest insects
where relevant post border biosecurity measures
advice on widespread pest insects present in the state.

For advice on pest insects search our website, the Western Australian Organism List or contact our Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).

For diagnostic services, please contact our Diagnostic Laboratory Services.

Articles

Diagnosing cabbage white butterfly

14 February 2014

Larvae of cabbage white butterfly are often found in canola crops. The larvae consume leaves but numbers are very rarely high enough to cause serious damage to the crop.
Diagnosing snails in crops

4 December 2013

There are three snail species that damage broadacre crops in Western Australia . Snail damage to crops has increased over the past ten years.
Diagnosing webworm

4 December 2013

Webworm larvae are leaf-chewing pests of seedling wheat and barley.
Diagnosing brown pasture looper

14 February 2014

Caterpillars with a characteristic looping motion that chew seedling broadleaf crops.
Diagnosing canola aphids

14 February 2014

Small soft-bodied winged (adults only) or wingless insects that damage canola by direct feeding or as a viral disease carrier.
Diagnosing cutworm in canola and pulses

28 February 2014

Cutworm caterpillars feed on seedling leaves and stems near ground level with stems often chewed through and ‘cut’ to ground level.
Diagnosing false wireworm

17 February 2014

False wireworms that damage canola crops are the larval stage of the bronzed field beetle.
Diagnosing European earwig

17 February 2014

A chewing insect introduced from Europe that can damage seedling crops and contaminate grain. Mainly found in the southern wheatbelt.
Diagnosing native budworm in canola

14 February 2014

The native budworm caterpillar can cause serious yield loss to canola as pods mature.
Diagnosing lucerne seed web moth in lupins and peas

19 January 2015

The larvae of the lucerne seed web moth (Etiella behrii - also called Etiella web moth) is an infrequent pest of peas and lupins.