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 Agriculture and Food, Western Australia provides:

biosecurity/quarantine measures at the State 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 please search our website, Western Australian Organism List or contact our Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS).

For diagnostic services, please contact our AGWEST Plant Laboratories or Animal Health Laboratories.

Articles

Fruit fly in Western Australia

23 November 2015

Fruit flies (family Tephritidae) attack a wide range of fruits and vegetables.
Citrus leafminer

6 January 2017

Citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, is the only leafminer attacking citrus in Australia.
Mealybugs in citrus

13 October 2015

Mealybugs (family Pseudococcidae) are oval-shaped, segmented, soft-bodied insects covered with white, mealy wax. They are often found between touching fruit, under the calyx or in the 'navels' of o
Stored grain insect resistance monitoring and management

29 August 2014

The Western Australian grain storage industry is focused on sealed storage and fumigation to achieve the federally mandated ‘nil tolerance’ for live insects in exports.
Control of bush flies by dung beetles

6 January 2017

The bush fly is a native insect that has affected the lives of Western Australians since before European settlement.
Cross-contamination with pesticide seed and structural treatments

21 October 2014

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
Identifying and controlling clothes moths, carpet beetles and silverﬁsh

29 November 2016

Clothes moths, carpet beetles and silverﬁsh can be destructive household pests. This information will help you recognise what they look like and understand their habits and where they live.
Aphids in citrus

8 November 2016

Four species of aphids on citrus are recorded in Australia but only two occur in Western Australia, the brown/black citrus aphid Toxoptera citricidus (Kirkaldy) and spiraea aphid, Aphi
Thrips in citrus

21 February 2014

Thrips (Thysanoptera) are small, slender, soft-bodied insects, just visible to the naked eye.
Red imported fire ant: declared pest in Western Australia

24 October 2014

Red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is one of the most serious ant pests in the world and was found to be established in Brisbane, Queensland, in 2001.