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

  • Persons in built up areas or special rural zones planning to trap declared vertebrate pests, using means other than cage traps, must apply for a permit from the Department of Agriculture and Food,

  • This animal pest alert provides information on the identification, biology, and pest potential of the Canada goose in Australia.

  • Pale green, cigar-shaped, caterpillar up to 12 millimetres in length.

    The diamondback moth (DBM) caterpillar is a serious pest of brassicas that is difficult to control.

  • Reducing impacts of wild canids on livestock production industries research project is one of ten successful applications to receive funding from the Boosting Biosecurity Defences project's Researc

  • Affected plants are stunted with few tillers.

    A soil-borne pest affecting roots of cereal crops, cereal cyst nematode (CCN) can cause substantial yield losses, particularly in continuous cereal crops.

  • Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is a wood-boring pest that usually targets deciduous hardwood trees such as elm, willow, poplar, maple and a variety of fruit trees.

  • There are many economic and financial implications that need to be considered when choosing a management option. These may include:

  • Adults up to 40mm long with black spot on tip of clear hindwing, 'X' shaped mark behind head and red shanks of hind legs

    Chewing pests that can cause complete defoliation if populations are high enough.

  • Cabbage white butterfly caterpillar

    Larvae of cabbage white butterfly are often found in canola crops. The larvae consume leaves but numbers are very rarely high enough to cause serious damage to the crop.

  • White italian snail

    There are three snail species that damage broadacre crops in Western Australia . Snail damage to crops has increased over the past ten years.

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