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

  • African black sugar ant, (Lepisiota incisa), is an invasive ant native to Africa.

  • Queensland fruit fly (Qfly, Bactrocera tryoni) is considered to be one of the most serious pests of fruit and vegetables in Australia.

  • Maps of Restricted Movement Zones (RMZ) are current and are subject to change. Please check back regularly.

  • Serpentine leaf miner (Liriomyza huidobrensis) is a tiny fly whose larvae (grubs) damage plants by tunnelling through the inside of leaves.

  • Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is a mottle brown coloured, shield shaped stink bug.

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

  • Glassy-winged sharpshooter (Homalodisca vitripennis) is a sucking leafhopper known to be a vector to bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which causes various serious plant diseases.

  • The larval stage of Spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) is a severe defoliator of a wide range of broadleaved trees and shrubs. This pest is not present in Western Australia.

  • The Australian plague locust is a declared pest under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.

  • This article describes the main distinguishing features between Australian plague locusts (Chortoicetes terminifera) and other common grasshoppers/locusts.

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