Pests

Animal pests, both vertebrates (backbone) and invertebrates (no backbone), can have an adverse impact on agriculture, the natural environment and even our lifestyle. Animal pests may be exotic animals which are introduced, either accidentally or deliberately. Native animals may also be pests in certain situations.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development manages pests in Western Australia through policy development, risk assessment, research and development, provision of technical advice and information, implementation of regulation, emergency response, property inspections, industry liaison, and the planning and coordination of significant species control/eradication programs.

For advice on pests 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

Serpentine leaf miner : declared pest

3 December 2020

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: declared pest

21 January 2019

Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is a mottle brown coloured, shield shaped stink bug.
Codling moth: declared pest

11 April 2014

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: declared pest

16 September 2022

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

15 September 2022

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.
Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)

15 October 2013

The Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS) provides advisory and identification services on animal and plant pests, weeds and diseases that impact Western Australia's agriculture and food ind
1080 landholder information

13 December 2013

This article contains the booklet '1080 landholder information' and provides a general summary of a landholder’s obligations under the code of practice for the saf
Australian plague locust: overview

21 February 2014

The Australian plague locust is a declared pest under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.
The use of 1080 in wild dog control

24 March 2014

Most bait products registered for use on wild dogs in Western Australia use sodium fluoroacetate (1080) as their active ingredient. Landholders have certain obligations under the code of practice f
Australian plague locust: identification field guide

21 February 2014

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