Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)

Page last updated: Wednesday, 3 August 2022 - 1:31pm

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

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 industries. This service plays an important frontline role for the detection and reporting of unfamiliar and potentially damaging pests, weeds and diseases of agricultural and quarantine concern.

Contact us

Phone: (08) 9368 3080
Email: padis@dpird.wa.gov.au 

Office hours

Our service is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Closed on public holidays.

Our services

We facilitate the detection of animal and plant pests, weeds and plant diseases that impact, or have the potential to negatively impact, Western Australia's agriculture and food industries. Calls made in WA to the National Exotic Plant Pest (EPP) Hotline 1800 084 881 are answered by our service. We provide the following services for customers in Western Australia:

  • frontline contact for unfamiliar pests, weeds and diseases
  • frontline contact for plant biosecurity emergency response
  • weed identification (if relevant to agriculture or quarantine)
  • insect identification
  • animal pest identification
  • disease identification (if relevant to agriculture or quarantine)
  • control advice for pests, weeds and diseases of agricultural concern.

Please note:

Services for commercial operators in relation to disease identification and diagnosis, cannot be handled by our service. Please contact our diagnostic laboratory service DDLS for their full list of services and costs. If the seed, plant, disease (plant or animal) is suspected of being a new threat to agricultural industries, fees will be waived.

How to submit a specimen or request an identification

If you discover something unfamilar please contact our service.

Specimens can be submitted in person or posted to our South Perth Office. Please refer to our webpage on Sending specimens for identification, call us or email our service for guidance.

Our department has also developed a number of apps which can be used to report the presence of unfamiliar pests and diseases. Click on the links below to download an app, or to make an online report:

  • MyPestGuide app - Allows you to identify pests and report your observations. 
  • PestFacts WA Reporter app - Report observations of pests and diseases in your paddocks to the Western Australian PestFacts newsletter editor.

Alternatively, photos of pests, weeds and plant diseases can be sent via email to padis@dpird.wa.gov.au

Location/postal address

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)
3 Baron-Hay Court
South Perth WA 6151

If visiting us, please ask to speak to someone from our service at front reception.

Common service requests 

Service request

?

This will happen….

Suspected European wasps, exotic/introduced bees including bumble bees and Asian honey bees

Yes, we provide this service

PaDIS will take the report and follow up investigation as appropriate.

Bee and wasp - hands on control

No, we don't provide this service

Contact licensed pest controller – see Yellow Pages or internet resources.

The Western Australian Apiarists Society website – under Swarm Collectors.

Portuguese millipede and white cedar moth (and caterpillar) control

No, we don't provide this service
  • See information on our website, search millipede or white cedar moth.
  • Vist the hardware store, nursery or garden centre for chemical control and products.
  • Contact a licensed pest controller – see Yellow Pages or internet searches.

Cane toads information, identification or control

No, we don't provide this service

Contact the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Cane toad Hotline 1800 449 453, canetoads@dpaw.wa.gov.au, or dpaw.wa.gov.au/canetoads

Frog identification

No, we don't provide this service

PaDIS will assist where there’s a quarantine or biosecurity concern.

Alternate contacts:

  • WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions website or phone 9219 9000.

Unfamiliar pests (including insects) and plant diseases.

Yes, we provide this service

PaDIS will take the report and follow up investigation as appropriate.

Common pests and disease control, including call out services

No, we don't provide this service

Refer to internet or book resources.

Contact licensed pest controller (see Yellow Pages, community newspapers, internet searches etc).

Fox and rabbit control

No, we don't provide this service
  • See information on our website, search fox or rabbit. PaDIS provides advice to landholders on control options and regulations, but Department staff do not carry out control activities.
  • Contact a licensed pest management technician for control services (see Yellow Pages, community newsapers, internet resources, word of mouth etc. for contactors).
  • Check if there is a Recognised Biosecurity Group targeting these pests in your area.

Agricultural weeds and their control

Yes, we provide this service
  • PaDIS will take reports and offer weed identification for weeds suspected of being a threat to agricultural industries.
  • Refer to agricultural retailers, book and internet resources, Industry bodies and agronomists for tailored control advice.
  • Check if there is a Recognised Biosecurity Group targeting weeds in your area.

Weed control services and control advice for lawn weeds

No, we don't provide this service

Contact nursery or garden centre.

Gardening services and land management services can be hired for active control.

Unfamiliar and agricultural weeds.

Yes, we provide this service

PaDIS will take the report and follow up investigation as appropriate.

Identification of ornamental and native plants

No, we don't provide this service

Contact:

Gardening advice including:

Pruning, re-potting, plant selection, Lawn or turf maintenance or problem identification

No, we don't provide this service

Contact:

  • Nursery or garden centre.
  • Gardening and specialist websites and online forums.
  • Gardening groups on social media e.g Facebook
  • Local garden clubs – some are listed on the Horticultural Council of WA website.
  • Newspaper columns and TV and radio talkback programs.

Large number of chickens dying with signs of influenza

Yes, we provide this service

Phone the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline 1800 675 888, or PaDIS will put you in contact with our Livestock Biosecurity team or animal pathologist.  

 

Cats, dogs, chickens or other domestic pets – advice on pests affecting animal health, stray or aggressive animals, lost pets

No, we don't provide this service

Contact:

  • Local veterinarian for pet health concerns.
  • Local government rangers for lost, stray or aggressive dogs or cats.

Neighbourhood disputes – tree control, boundary issues, pets, poisoning of plants/trees/animals.

No, we don't provide this service

Contact:

Pigeon control

No, we don't provide this service
  • Read the WA Department of Health website information on pigeon control.
  • Contact a licence pest management technician if required (see yellow pages, newspaper adverts, internet resources etc).

Native animals: Ravens (crows), cockatoos, snakes, kangaroos, magpies etc.

No, we don't provide this service

View information on the WA Department of Parks and Wildlife website or phone 9219 9000.

Mosquito problems and mosquito-borne diseases

No, we don't provide this service

Contact:

Local government’s health officer in the first instance. Information is also available on the WA Department of Health website.

Human pests or parasites

No, we don't provide this service

Contact:

Local GP (general practitioner) or medical centre.

Department of Health website.

Plants poisonous to people

No, we don't provide this service

Contact:

  • Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26.
  • Internet resources and library. Publications such as: ‘Pretty but poisonous: Plants poisonous to people’ (R.C.H. Shepherd) and other text books.

Mushroom/fungi identification, including edible species

No, we don't provide this service.

Contact:

Perth Urban Bushland Fungi website

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions fungus factsheets

The Australasian Mycological Society.

Book resources such as: Australia's Poisonous Plants, Fungi and Cyanobacteria - A Guide to Species of Medical and Veterinary Importance.

Please note: We do not make recommendations for contractors providing the services listed above. Please use the Yellow Pages, local newspapers or the internet to find these services. The suggestions in the alternate contact column are not exhaustive.

Contact information

Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)
+61 (0)8 9368 3080