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.

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    Whitefly

    10 December 2013

    Whiteflies or snow flies (Aleyrodidae) are tiny, sap-sucking insects often found on the underside of leaves.

  • 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.

  • Adult Sycamore lace bugs, nymphs and honeydew on the back of a plane leaf

    Sycamore lace bug

    8 May 2017

    The Department of Agriculture and Food received a report via the MyPestGuide Reporter app in April 2017 of an insect which has been identified as Sycamore lace bug Corythucha ciliata. This

  • Foliage with star shaped pale lilac flowers and yellow berries.

    White cedar moth

    3 February 2014

    The caterpillars of the white cedar moth (Leptocneria reducta) are a serious pest of cape lilac trees. They also invade homes, cars and outbuildings.

  • Locust swarm on a road.

    Australian plague locust: driver and vehicle safety

    25 February 2014

    Locust swarms can affect driving conditions as adult locusts moving in swarms often move across roads and can pose a significant distraction to drivers.

  • 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
  • Greying cattle dog with a leather collar.

    Pet pests and their control

    6 May 2014

    Pets are most likely to be affected by parasitic pests from spring to autumn.

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