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

Mealybugs in grapevines and deciduous fruit tree crops

4 May 2015

Two mealybug species, the longtailed mealybug (Pseudococcus longispinus), and obscure mealybug (Pseudococcus viburni) occur in grapevines and deciduous fruit tree crops in Western
Codling moth: declared pest

11 April 2014

Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is a serious pest of apples and other pome fruit and has the potential to cause severe crop losses.
Management of European earwig

20 February 2014

The European earwig (Forficula auricularia) is native to Europe and has been in Australia from the mid-1850s.
Managing apple dimpling bug

17 March 2014

Apple dimpling bug (Campylomma liebknechti) adults feed on developing fruitlets of apples, pears, nashi pears and occasionally summerfruit (stone fruit) resulting in distortion that makes
Apple looper: pest of apples and grapevines

18 March 2014

Apple looper (Phrissogonus laticostata) is a native insect that damages fruit in apple orchards and vineyards in the South West of Western Australia.
Garden weevil in vineyards

13 March 2014

Garden weevil (Phlyctinus callosus) was accidentally introduced into Western Australia from South Africa.
Pome and Summer Fruit Orchard Spray Guide for Western Australia 2020-21

24 March 2014

The Pome and Summer Fruit Orchard Spray Guide 2020-21 provides information on chemical products, both registered and those as minor use permits, to control insect, mite and mollusc pests, diseases
Dried Fruit Beetle (Carpophilus)-pest of stone fruit

13 April 2015

Carpophilus, also known as driedfruit beetles, are a worldwide pest of fruits, both pre- and post-harvest, and grains.
Thrips pests in pome and stone fruit

16 December 2013

Thrips are small (1-2mm), slender insects, just visible to the naked eye which are an economic pest of pome and stone fruit.
Medfly area-wide management project: interim results

27 February 2014

'Management of Medfly without cover sprays' is a three-year project jointly funded by Fruit West, Horticulture Australia Ltd, Summerfruit Australia, and the Department of Agriculture and Food, West