Pest insects

Pest insects can have adverse and damaging impacts on agricultural production and market access, the natural environment, and our lifestyle. Pest insects may cause problems by damaging crops and food production, parasitising livestock, or being a nuisance and health hazard to humans.

Western Australia is free from some of the world's major pest insects. Biosecurity measures on your property are vital in preventing the spread of insects.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development provides:

  • biosecurity/quarantine measures at the WA border to prevent the entry of pest insects
  • where relevant post border biosecurity measures
  • advice on widespread pest insects present in the state.

For advice on pest insects 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.

See Also

Previous Pause Next

Articles

  • Yellow-winged locusts

    29 March 2018

    Yellow-winged locusts (Gastrimargus musicus) are native insects, distinguished by bright yellow wings, they are 35-50mm in length when mature and make a distinctive clicking noise when fly

  • Spray rig

    Insecticide spray guides for crops in Western Australia

    10 July 2017

    Up to date autumn/winter and winter/spring insecticide spray guides are provided by the department every year to help growers and consultants manage insect pests in canola, lupin and cereal crops.

  • European wasp: declared pest

    The European wasp is considered one of the worst wasps in the world - harmful to people, our outdoor lifestyles and to our horticultural and agricultural industries.

  • Adult Sycamore lace bugs, nymphs and honeydew on the back of a plane leaf

    Sycamore lace bug

    8 May 2017

    The Department of Agriculture and Food received a report via the MyPestGuide Reporter app in April 2017 of an insect which has been identified as Sycamore lace bug Corythucha ciliata. This

  • Meat ant (Iridomyrmex purpureus)

    Australian meat ants

    13 April 2017

    Australian meat ants (Iridomyrmex purpureus gp) are a native ant species.

  • Bull ant

    Ant identification is the key to successful control.

    29 March 2017

    Ant treatment and control options vary tremendously for homes, gardens, and businesses, depending on the ant species.

  • Russian wheat aphid

    GRDC Research Updates 2017: Russian wheat aphid - where are we at with this pest in WA?

    16 February 2017

    Aim:

    To provide an update to the Western Australian grains industry on surveillance for Russian wheat aphid (RWA) in WA and effective management should the pest be found in WA.

  • Trial set-up with insect exclusion tents

    Canola yield loss to green peach aphid, Geraldton 2016 trial report

    30 January 2017

    Green peach aphid feeding damage to flowering canola did not cause yield loss

    Canola seed oil content also was not correlated to population density of green peach aphids

  • Declared Pest Rate

    1 November 2016

    The Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) allows a rate to be raised for purposes of controlling declared pests in prescribed areas.

  • MyCrop how to video series

    31 August 2016

    This series of video tutorials has been produced to provide advice about the best ways to monitor and sample crops to diagnose and overcome constraints to crop production.

Pages

Filter by search

Filter by topic