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

Common neighbourhood spiders

11 December 2013

There are many hundreds of species of spiders in Australia which play a beneficial role in our environment by eating insect pests.
Diagnosing brown wheat mite

4 December 2013

Brown wheat mite is an uncommon sap-sucking pest of cereals that is most active in dry warm weather.
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).
Straw itch mites

10 October 2013

Severe skin itching in humans can be caused by bites from species of straw itch mite.
Diagnosing bryobia mite

14 February 2014

Bryobia mite, also known as clover mite, is a sap-sucking pest of broadleaf crops and pastures, that can seriously damage canola especially where there has been a 'green bridge' consisting of clove
Diagnosing mite damage in field peas

23 April 2015

Field peas are very susceptible to mite damage at the seedling stage.
Diagnosing balaustium mite

4 December 2013

Balaustium mite is a sucking pest of crops. Crops usually outgrow damage unless stressed.
Diagnosing blue oat mite

4 December 2013

Blue oat mites (BOM) are sap-sucking pest of crops and pastures. Canola and peas are particularly susceptible. Often co-exists with redlegged earth mites.
Mite pests of strawberry crops

14 January 2014

The most common mite pest of strawberry crops is two-spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae), also known as spider mite or red-spider mite.
Mites in citrus

10 October 2013

Mites (Acari) are arthropods, a group that includes insects and spiders. Some mites are large enough to be visible to the naked eye while others can only be seen with a hand lens or microscope.