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

Aphids in citrus

7 October 2013

Four species of aphids on citrus are recorded in Australia but only two occur in Western Australia, the brown/black citrus aphid Toxoptera citricidus (Kirkaldy) and spiraea aphid, Aphi
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Chemical control of western flower thrips

16 December 2013

Pesticides are often used to control western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) in horticultural crops. However, western flower thrips is regarded to be a 'pesticide-induced proble
Strawberries - not a host of Mediterranean fruit fly?

6 January 2014

A two-year research project is underway that aims to establish that commercially-grown strawberries in Western Australia are not a host of Mediterranean fruit fly.
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
Mango seed weevil: pest data sheet

31 October 2013

Mango seed weevil (Sternochetus mangiferae) is an exotic pest to Western Australia.