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

  • The Tomato potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli) has had significant market access implications for many Western Australian commodities.

  • Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is a serious horticultural pest in Western Australia. It attacks a range of cultivated fruits and some fruiting vegetables.

  • Black scale (Saissetia oleae) is a major pest of Australian olives, reducing tree vigour, yield and the quality of fruit and oil.

  • Whiteflies or snow flies (Aleyrodidae) are tiny, sap-sucking insects often found on the underside of leaves.

  • Grain insects are not permitted in export grain or grain for sale and there is a zero tolerance for insects in export hay. Protecting against field and stored grain pests is therefore critical.

  • The Department of Agriculture and Food received a report via the MyPestGuide Reporter app in April 2017 of an insect which has been identified as Sycamore lace bug Corythucha ciliata. This

  • The caterpillars of the white cedar moth (Leptocneria reducta) are a serious pest of cape lilac trees. They also invade homes, cars and outbuildings.

  • Locust swarms can affect driving conditions as adult locusts moving in swarms often move across roads and can pose a significant distraction to drivers.

  • Monitoring your crop allows timely intervention to manage constraints, assess crop growth, target maximum crop yield and optimise grain quality and profitability.

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