int(43)
bool(false)
int(0)
int(1306)
bool(false)
int(43)
int(2309)
bool(false)
int(43)
int(55)
bool(false)
int(43)
int(1307)
bool(false)
int(43)
int(41)
bool(false)
int(0)
int(60)
bool(false)
int(41)
int(1311)
bool(false)
int(41)
int(1371)
bool(false)
int(41)
int(2576)
bool(false)
int(41)
int(406)
bool(false)
int(41)
int(42)
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int(1304)
bool(false)
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int(1303)
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int(42)
int(407)
bool(false)
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int(62)
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int(51)
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int(3161)
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int(3163)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3164)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3165)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3166)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3167)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3168)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3169)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3170)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3171)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3172)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3173)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(3174)
bool(false)
int(42)
int(2951)
bool(false)
int(0)
int(2952)
bool(false)
int(2951)
int(2953)
bool(false)
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int(2955)
bool(false)
int(2951)

Regional pests

When new exotic pests with the potential to cause serious economic impact on plant production industries are detected, eradication is the ideal goal. While Australia has had great success in eradicating exotic pests, in some cases eradication is not possible.

Following the establishment of these pests, measures can still be taken to minimise negative impacts, primarily through containment.

Regionalised pests can be contained at a local, regional or state level, depending on current distribution and the ability to implement cost beneficial measures for containment.

Domestic quarantine restrictions are key in preventing the spread of pests nationally. State and territory government legislation underpins containment activities which are carried out by the jurisdictions in cooperation with other states, territories and relevant industries as appropriate. Rules apply to both travellers and commercial growers.

The table below lists approximately 80 pests recognised by formal legislation and their current area of distribution* within Australia.

Some of the quarantine or biosecurity zones relating to these pests are shown on the map.

*the list is correct as of end 2019

Scientific name Common name Region
New South Wales
Bactrocera tryoni Queensland fruit fly Endemic within all of NSW excluding the Queensland Fruit Fly Control Zone on the Victorian border as defined in Biosecurity (Queensland Fruit Fly) Control Order 2017 under the Biosecurity Act 2015
Banana bunchy top virus (Babuvirus) Banana bunchy top virus Present within the Banana Bunchy Top Virus Control Zone on the far north coast as defined in the Biosecurity (Banana Bunchy Top Virus) Control Order 2017 under the Biosecurity Act 2015
Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Grapevine phylloxera Present within the Grapevine Phylloxera Infested Areas, comprising the Sydney and the Albury-Corowa regions as defined in the Biosecurity Regulation 2017 under the Biosecurity Act 2015
Panonychus citri Citrus red mite Present within the Citrus Red Mite Biosecurity Zone, comprising the Cumberland and Northumberland counties as defined in the Biosecurity Regulation 2017 under the Biosecurity Act 2015
Ralstonia solanacearum Bacterial wilt of potatoes Present in NSW excluding the Seed Protected Area, comprising specific areas within the Central Tablelands and Northern Tablelands as defined in the Biosecurity Regulation 2017 under the Biosecurity Act 2015
Spongospora subterranea Powdery scab of potatoes Present in NSW excluding the Seed Protected Area, comprising specific areas within the Central Tablelands and Northern Tablelands as defined in the Biosecurity Regulation 2017 under the Biosecurity Act 2015
Northern Territory
Aleuroidicus dispersus Spiraling whitefly Darwin, Palmerston, Darwin rural area, Katherine
Bactrocera tryoni Queensland fruit fly Darwin, Palmerston, Darwin rural area, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs
Bemisia tabaci Silver leaf whitefly Darwin, Palmerston, Darwin rural area, Katherine, Alice Springs
Brontispa longissima Palm leaf beetle Darwin, Palmerston, Darwin rural area
Citripestis eutrapera Mango fruit borer Darwin, Darwin rural area, Katherine
Cosmopolites sordidus Banana weevil borer Darwin rural area
Cryptosporiopsis citri Cryptosporiopsis leaf spot Darwin, Darwin rural area, Batchelor, Daly River, Litchfield region
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (Tobamovirus) Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus Darwin rural area, Katherine, Alice Springs (Ti Tree)
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (tropical race 4) Panama disease Darwin, Darwin rural area
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum Fusarium wilt of watermelon Darwin, Darwin rural area, Katherine
Idioscopus clypealis Mango leaf hopper Tiwi Islands, Darwin rural area
Idioscopus nitidulus Mango leaf hopper Darwin, Palmerston, Darwin rural area, Adelaide River, Pine Creek, Katherine
Monomorium dichroum Monomorium dichroum Darwin
Parlatoria blanchardi Date palm scale Alice Springs
Phakopsora cherimoliae Phakopsora rust Darwin rural area
Pineapple mealy bug wilt associated virus (Ampelovirus; PMWaV-1, PMWaV-3) Pineapple mealy bug wilt associated virus One property only (Darwin Correctional Facility Shoal Bay)
Pseudocercospora purpurea Cercospora spot Darwin rural area
Selenothrips rubrocinctus Red banded thrips Darwin, Palmerston, Darwin rural area, Adelaide River, Pine Creek, Katherine
Sternochetus mangiferae Mango seed weevil Darwin, Palmerston, Darwin rural area, Batchelor, Adelaide River
Tetranycus gloveri Glovers’ mite Darwin rural area
Thrips palmi Melon thrips Darwin rural area
Uredo morifolia Mulberry rust Dundee Downs, Palmerston, Noonamah, Darwin rural area
Queensland
Aleurodicus dispersus Spiraling whitefly Torres Strait Islands, Cape York Peninsula, Mareeba, Charters Towers, coastal towns south to Bundaberg
Anoplolepis gracilipes Yellow crazy ant Populations dotted in various locations spanning Cairns to the Gold Coast
Apis cerana, Java genotype Asian honey bee Surrounding Cairns region, north to Twyford (near Mossman), west of Dimbula and south to Feluga. A genetically distinct population of AHB is the focus of a Varroa jacobsoni (varroa mite) eradication in Townsville
Banana bunchy top virus (Babuvirus) Bunchy top Noosa, south to the NSW border
Chilo terrenellus (Pagenstecher) Sugarcane stem borer Detected on a number of occasions in sugarcane on two of the three Torres Strait islands closest to Papua New Guinea (Saibai and Dauan)
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (Tobamovirus) Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus Confined to three quarantined businesses; one in north Queensland and two in the Wide Bay region
Cryptotermes brevis West Indian drywood termite Greater Brisbane, Wide Bay–Burnett, Rockhampton, Bowen, Townsville
Deanolis sublimbalis Red banded mango caterpillar Far northern Cape York Peninsula
Eumetopina flavipes (Muir) Island sugarcane planthopper Torres Strait island archipelago and the northern peninsula area of Cape York
Fiji disease virus Fiji disease virus Sugarcane biosecurity zones 4, 5 and 6
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (race 1, race 2, subtropical race 4 and tropical race 4) Panama disease Race 1 endemic throughout banana growing regions
Race 2 south Johnstone and Cairns
Race 4 (subtropical) south-east Queensland as far north as Rosedale (north of Bundaberg)
Races 1, 2 and subtropical race 4 are no longer in regulation, although the General Biosecurity Obligation applies
Race 4 (tropical) detected in 2015, 2017 and 2018 on three separate properties. A containment program remains in place
Idioscopus clypealis Mango leaf hopper Cape York Peninsula and Mareeba area, south to Atherton, and along the coast from Wangetti to Gordonvale. Managed under the General Biosecurity Obligation
Idioscopus nitidulus Mango leaf hopper Cape York Peninsula. Managed under the General Biosecurity Obligation
Liriomyza sativae Vegetable leafminer Some islands in Torres Strait and at Seisia in the northern peninsula area of Cape York
Mycosphaerella fijiensis Black Sigatoka Some northern and eastern Torres Strait islands
Papaya ringspot virus (Potyvirus) Papaya ringspot virus South-east Queensland as far north as Bundaberg area
Planoccoccus lilacinus Coffee mealybug Boigu Island, Torres Strait islands
Procontarinia spp. Mango leaf gall midge Torres Strait and northern tip of Cape York Peninsula
Pseudococcus cryptus Cryptic mealybug Islands in the Torres Strait and isolated places in north Queensland, including Cairns (not widely distributed)
Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Jack Beardsley mealybug Torres Strait islands and the Cape York Peninsula
Pseudocercospora purpurea Cercospora leaf spot Mareeba Shire Council and Tablelands Regional Council
Sugarcane mosaic virus (strain A) (Potyvirus) Sugarcane mosaic virus Sugarcane biosecurity zones 4, 5 and 6
Sugarcane striate mosaic associated virus (Carlavirus) Sugarcane striate mosaic virus Sugarcane biosecurity zone 2 and 6
Tetranychus piercei Spider mite Weipa, Cape York Peninsula
Thrips palmi Melon thrips South-east Queensland as far north as Bundaberg area. North Queensland coastal areas from Ayr to Mossman and Atherton Tablelands
Wasmannia auropunctata Electric ant Far north Queensland, Cairns hinterland and Bingle Bay
South Australia
Achroia grisella Lesser wax moth Endemic across all of SA
Aethina tumida Small hive beetle Limited known distribution within all of SA, but not known to occur on Kangaroo Island
Ascosphaera apis Chalkbrood Endemic across all of SA
Chortoicetes terminifera Australian plague locust Endemic within all of SA
Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (Tobamovirus) Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus Known to be present on at least five properties on the Northern Adelaide Plains.
Diuraphis noxia Russian wheat aphid Endemic within SA cereal growing regions
Galleria mellonella Greater wax moth Endemic across all of SA
Grapevine pinot gris virus Grapevine pinot gris virus Established in SA
Melissococcus pluten European foulbrood Endemic across most of SA, but not known to occur on K­­angaroo Island
Nosema apis Nosema Endemic across all of SA
Nosema ceranae Nosema Endemic across most of SA, but not known to occur on Kangaroo Island
Paenibacillus larvae American foulbrood Endemic across most of SA, but not known to occur on Kangaroo Island
Victoria
Cornu apertus (syn. Cantareus apertus) Green snail Management of green snail linked and infested lands (refer to specific gazetted orders)
Daktulosphaira vitifoliae Grapevine phylloxera Phylloxera Infested Zone and Phylloxera Free Zone (refer to specific gazetted orders)
Globodera rostochiensis Potato cyst nematode Management of potato cyst nematode linked and infested lands, and Plant Protection District (refer to specific gazetted orders)
Western Australia
Achroia grisella Lesser wax moth Regulations or controls for movement and control in specified areas
Aethina tumida Small hive beetle Kimberley Region. Host material restricted from movement to rest of state
Bemisia tabaci (B biotype) Silverleaf whitefly Carnarvon. Host material restricted from movement to Kununurra
Brontispa longissima Palm leaf beetle Broome. Host material restricted from movement to rest of state
Cornu apertus (syn. Cantareus apertus) Green snail Regulations or controls for movement and control in specified areas
Ceratitis capitata Mediterranean fruit fly Absent from east Kimberley region (Ord River Irrigation Area). Regulations or controls for movement and control in specified areas
Chortoicetes terminifera Australian plague locust Regulations for control in specified areas
Cosmopolites sordidus Banana weevil borer Kununurra and Carnarvon. Host material restricted from movement to rest of state
Cryptolestes ferrugineus Flat grain beetle Regulations or controls for movement and control in specified areas
Cryptolestes pusillus Flat grain beetle Regulations or controls for movement and control in specified areas
Ephestia elutella Tobacco moth Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Ephestia kuehniella Mediterranean flour moth Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (race 1) Panama disease Carnarvon. Host material restricted from movement to rest of the state
Galleria mellonella Larger wax moth Regulations or controls for movement and control in specified areas
Hylotrupes bajulus European house borer Regulations or controls for movement and control in specified areas
Oryzaephilus surinamensis Sawtooth grain beetle Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Pentalonia nigronervosa Banana aphid Carnarvon. Host material restricted from movement to rest of the state
Plodia interpunctella Indian meal moth Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Potato spindle tuber viroid (Pospiviroidae) Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) Carnarvon
Rhyzopertha dominica Lesser grain borer Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Sitophilus granarius Granary weevil Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Sitophilus oryzae Rice weevil Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Sitotroga cerealella Angoumois grain moth Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Thrips palmi Melon thrips Kimberley (low pest prevalence area)
Tribolium castaneum Rust red flour Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Tribolium confusum Confused flour beetle Regulations or controls for insecticide resistant strains
Trogoderma variabile Warehouse beetle Regulations or controls for movement and control in specified areas