Priority pest insects and mites

Armyworms

Armyworms are caterpillar pests of grass pastures and cereal crops. Major outbreaks occasionally occur particularly after periods of drought.

Asian citrus psyllid

Asian citrus psyllid poses a serious threat to backyard citrus and the Citrus industry. Keeping it out of the country is a national priority.

Australian plague locusts

The Australian Plague Locust is a native Australian insect found across Australia.They can have devastating effects on agricultural production.

Balaustium mite

The Balaustium mite is emerging within the southern Australian grains industry as a significant pest of winter crops and pasture.

Blackheaded pasture cockchafer

The blackheaded pasture cockchafer is an important pest of improved pastures in south-eastern Australia.

Blue oat mite

Blue oat mites are species of earth mites that are major agricultural pests of southern Australia and other parts of the world. They attack various pasture, vegetable and crop plants.

Brown marmorated stink bug

The brown marmorated stink bug is an exotic plant pest that is a high priority for Australian biosecurity. It's a pest with a wide host range and shelters.

Bryobia mite

Bryobia mites are sporadic but significant pests of winter grain crops and pastures in southern Australia.

Bumblebee

Bumblebees are not native to Australia. In Victoria bumblebees could be a threat to the environment and primary production.

Citrus gall wasp

Citrus gall wasp (Bruchophagus fellis) is a native insect native to coastal regions around the border of Queensland and New South Wales.

Citrus red mite

Citrus red mite is one of the world’s worst pests of citrus, but also feeds on roses, pears, almonds and some broadleaved ornamentals.

Codling moth

Codling moth is the most important insect pest of pome fruit in Victoria and can damage almost the entire crop if not controlled.

Diamondback moth

The diamondback moth is the most destructive insect pest of brassica crops throughout the world.

Electric ant

The electric ant (or little fire ant) is an exotic pest currently not found in Victoria.

European house borer

European House Borer is a destructive pest of untreated seasoned coniferous timber (pine, fir and spruce). It can cause major structural damage to buildings.

European wasp

The European wasp has spread from its native range to North America, New Zealand, South Africa, South America and Australia.

Exotic Liriomyza leafminers

Exotic leafmining flies are pests that pose a serious threat to Australian agricultural and horticultural industries.

Exotic honey bee parasites

Exotic honey bee parasites and pests are a serious threat to Australian honey bee colonies — early detection is crucial to limit their spread.

Fall armyworm

Fall armyworm is a highly invasive and destructive caterpillar.

Giant African snail

The Giant African snail is one of the world’s largest and most damaging snails that feeds on over 500 plants species

Giant pine scale

Giant pine scale is a tiny scale insect that lives by sucking the sap of pine, fir and spruce trees. It's a pest that's known to exist in Melbourne's south-east.

Giant willow aphid

The giant willow aphid is a European or Asian aphid species that has spread to other regions of the world. The aphids can form dense colonies on host trees.

Grapevine phylloxera

Grapevine phylloxera is an aphid-like insect that feeds on grapevine roots, found in six areas of Victoria.

Green snail

Green snail is an exotic pest that is currently present in the Cobram area of Victoria. Its host range includes broadacre and horticultural crops.

Guava root knot nematode

Guava root knot nematode or GRKN (Meloidogyne enterolobii) is a species of plant parasitic nematode which can infect and damage a wide range of crops.

Hazelnut mite

This is a new mite species found in hazelnut orchards.

Khapra beetle

Khapra beetle is a serious exotic pest of stored grain, cereals and dry foodstuffs.

Lucerne flea

The lucerne flea is a springtail that is found in both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Mediterranean fruit fly

Mediterranean fruit fly is a serious pest of fruit and fruiting vegetables that's exotic to Victoria.

Melon thrips

Melon thrips are very small insects that are pests of some important fruit and vegetable crops.

Olive lace bug

The olive lace bug is an Australian native sap sucking insect that can reduce yields in olive trees and kill them if left untreated.

Oriental fruit fly

Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) is one of the world’s worst horticultural pests and is a serious threat to Australia’s fruit and vegetable industries.

Polyphagous shot-hole borer

Polyphagous shot-hole borer, PSHB (Euwallacea fornicatus) is a tiny exotic wood boring beetle native to south-east Asia.

Potato cyst nematode

Potato cyst nematode (PCN) is a microscopic, worm-like organism that feeds on the roots of potatoes, tomatoes and other plants of the Solanaceae family.

Queensland fruit fly

Queensland fruit fly (QFF) is a significant pest which can infest many varieties of fruit and vegetables.

Red imported fire ants (RIFA)

Fire ants have had significant environmental, health and economic impacts in other countries. The red imported fire ant has been found in Queensland.

Redheaded pasture cockchafer

The redheaded pasture cockchafer is an important pest of improved pastures in south-eastern Australia. The larvae causes damage by feeding on pasture roots.

Redlegged earth mite

The redlegged earth mite is a major pest of broadleaf crops and pastures, in regions of Australia with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers.

Silverleaf white fly

Silverleaf white fly is difficult to control due to its ability move from one host plant to another and to quickly develop resistance to insecticides.

Spongy moth

A highly invasive pest with a vast host range and poses a serious threat to agricultural, horticultural, forestry and nursery industries.

Spotted lanternfly

An exotic invasive planthopper known to feed on over 100 host plants including economically important crops as well as native trees and plants.

Tomato potato psyllid

Tomato potato psyllid is a tiny sap-sucking, winged insect that feeds on tomato, potato, capsicum, chilli, goji berry, tamarillo, eggplant and sweet potato.

Two-spotted mite

Two-spotted mites are major pests of vegetables, fruit, flower and ornamental crops worldwide, and of pome and stone fruit orchards in Victoria.

Varroa mite of honey bees

An exotic parasitic mite that kills honey bee colonies and transmits honey bee viruses. Varroa does not occur in Australia.

Wax moth a beekeeping pest

Wax moth is a damaging pest of beeswax combs, comb honey and bee-collected pollen.

Yellow spotted stink bug

Yellow spotted stink bug is a sap-sucking bug that poses a serious threat to many commercial fruit crops. Keeping it out of the country is a national priority

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Page last updated: 19 Apr 2024