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

  • Radish flea beetle (Phyllotreta chotanica Duvivier 1892) is present throughout Asia and feeds on the leaves of cruciferous crops such as cauliflower, cabbage, cress, bok choy, broccoli and

  • Adult is 5mm long with white, black and grey patches

    The pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum) is  in fact a beetle not a weevil and should really be called the pea beetle. It is one of the most damaging pests of field peas.

  • Green peach aphid (top), bluegreen aphid (centre), cowpea aphid (below)

    Small soft-bodied winged or wingless insects that damage field peas grown in Western Australia  through transmission of viruses rather than direct feeding damage.  Main species are pea aphid (A

  • Vegetable weevil (top), desiantha weevil

    Weevils are beetles with long snouts that can  rarely damage lupins in high rainfall areas. Species include:

  • Vegetable beetle adult

    A widespread beetle is mainly a pest of summer crops, but has seriously damaged young canola in southern districts, especially when there has been a warm start to the growing season.

  • Rutherglen bug adult

    Sap-sucking insects that can damage crops and pastures that emerge in warm conditions. Often associated with mintweed after summer rain. Adults can contaminate canola at harvest.

     

  • Fallen tillers caused by adult beetles chewing stems in spring.

    A pest of cereals and perennial grasses, adult and larval African black beetles can cause economic damage to wheat and barley crops during autumn and winter on the south coast of Western Australia

  • Silver leaf discolouration

    Correct identification of insect pests is necessary in order to avoid economic damage being sustained and retain beneficial insects.

  • Slater

    Slaters have only recently become a problem in high rainfall crops sown into dense stubble.

  • Thrips are small slender insects (1.2mm long by 0.1mm), just visible to the naked eye.

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