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.

See Also

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Articles

  • Mediterranean fruit fly

    Fruit fly

    13 November 2013

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

  • Female black scale

    Black scale in olives

    21 November 2013

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

  • Close-up of a desiantha weevil adult on a leaf

    Oats: insect pests

    29 November 2013

    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.

  • CropCheck

    4 February 2014

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

  • Cereal crops - insect threshold levels

    9 April 2014
  • Russian wheat aphid

    GRDC Research Updates 2017: Russian wheat aphid - where are we at with this pest in WA?

    16 February 2017

    Aim:

    To provide an update to the Western Australian grains industry on surveillance for Russian wheat aphid (RWA) in WA and effective management should the pest be found in WA.

  • Two spotted mite on a banana leaf in the ORIA

    Pest management of bananas in the ORIA

    26 February 2014

    Bananas in the Ord River Irrigation Area face two major insect pests (banana weevil borer and sugarcane bud moth) and two mites (russet and two-spotted).

  • null

    Sweetpotato weevil: Declared pest

    6 April 2016

    Sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius (Fabricius) is the most serious pest of sweet potato, not only in the United States, but around the world.

  • Pale green, cigar-shaped, caterpillar up to 12 millimetres in length.

    Diagnosing diamondback moth

    14 February 2014

    The diamondback moth (DBM) caterpillar is a serious pest of brassicas that is difficult to control.

  • Cabbage white butterfly caterpillar

    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.

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