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

Diagnosing mite damage in field peas

23 April 2015

Field peas are very susceptible to mite damage at the seedling stage.
Diagnosing aphid damage in field peas

23 April 2015

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
Diagnosing weevils in lupins and field peas

19 January 2015

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

17 February 2014

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.
Diagnosing rutherglen bug

4 December 2013

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.
Diagnosing African black beetle

4 December 2013

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
Canola - Insect threshold levels

9 April 2014
Monitoring insects and other crop pests

24 March 2014

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

28 March 2014

Slaters have only recently become a problem in high rainfall crops sown into dense stubble.
Cross-contamination with pesticide seed and structural treatments

2 October 2013

Pesticide-treated seed and structural treatments to grain storage and handling areas may leave chemical residues in cereals, pulses and oilseeds unless managed effectively. Treated grain storage an