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Horticulture and grains - pests and diseases watch list
Watching out for unusual pests and disease symptoms is just one of the ways you can help protect Australia's horticultural and grains industries.
Pests and diseases that you have not seen before could be exotic to Australia. Some of the more serious exotic plant pests and diseases to watch out for are listed below and sorted by industry.
The pests and diseases listed have been identified as threats through Plant Health Australia's Industry Biosecurity Planning process. Where available, links to fact sheets and images are provided to help with the recognition of the pests and diseases.
You can help by reporting any plant pests and diseases that you suspect are exotic to Australia on 1800 084 881 (for more information see Spotted something unusual? Report plant pests and diseases).
On this page:
- Banana
- Cherry
- Citrus
- Cotton
- Grains
- Nursery and Garden
- Nuts
- Pome (Apple and Pear)
- Queensland Fruit and Vegetables
- Rice
- Strawberry
- Sugar
- Summerfruit (Stone Fruit)
- Vegetables
- Viticulture
Other pages of interest:
- Watch list for forestry and timber - exotic pests and diseases
- Watch list: exotic weed threats to primary industries
Banana
Diseases (pathogens) of banana
- Bacterial wilt (Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum)
Fact sheet - Exotic threat to banana: Bacterial wilt
PDF [88kb]
- Banana bract mosaic disease (Banana Bract Mosaic Virus)
Fact sheet - Banana Bract Mosaic Disease
Diagnostic images - Bract mosaic
- Black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis var. defformis)
Fact sheet - Diseases of plants: Black sigatoka
Fact sheet - Exotic plant pests - black Sigatoka
Fact sheet - Black Sigatoka: Exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [162kb]
Diagnostic images - Black sigatoka of bananas
- Blood disease (Blood Disease Bacterium)
Fact sheet - Banana blood disease: Exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [307kb]
Diagnostic images - Banana blood disease
- Eumusae leaf spot (Mycosphaerella eumusae)
Fact sheet - Exotic threat to banana: Eumusae leaf spot disease PDF [102kb]
Diagnostic images - Eumusae leaf spot
- Freckle (Guignardia musae)
Fact sheet - Banana Freckle
Diagnostic images - Banana freckle
- Moko (Ralstonia solanacearum race 2)
Fact sheet - Moko disease: Exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [130kb]
Diagnostic images - Moko disease of banana
- Panama disease Tropical race 4, Fusarium wilt tropical race 4 (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 4)
Fact sheet - Diseases of plants: Fusarium wilt
Fact sheet - Panama disease: Exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [253kb]
Fact sheet - Panama disease: on-farm management PDF [136kb]
Diagnostic images - Panama disease of banana
Insect (invertebrate) pests of banana
- Banana skipper butterfly (Erionota thrax)
Diagnostic images - Banana skipper
Pest images - Erionota thrax (Linnaeus), 1776
- Spider mite (Tetranychus piercei)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats to banana: Spider Mite PDF [151kb]
Cherry
Diseases (pathogens) of cherry
- Plum pox virus / Sharka (Potyvirus Plum pox virus)
Fact sheet – Exotic threats of cherry: Sharka PDF [254kb]
Citrus
Diseases (pathogens) of citrus
- Citrus canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri)
Fact sheet - Diseases of plants: Citrus canker
Fact sheet - Exotic plant pests - Citrus canker
Fact sheet - Citrus canker: Exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [99kb]
Diagnostic images - Citrus canker (canker A)
Disease images - Citrus canker
- Huanglongbing, Citrus greening (Candidatus Liberobacter asiaticum)
Fact sheet - Diseases of plants: Citrus greening disease
Fact sheet - Exotic plant pests - Citrus greening (Huanglongbing)
Diagnostic images - Citrus huanglongbing
Disease images - citrus greening
- Mal Secco (Phoma tracheiphila)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of citrus: Mal secco PDF [91kb]
Diagnostic images - Mal secco disease of citrus
- Mandarin stem-pitting (Citrus tristeza closterovirus (CTV) (mandarin stem-pitting strain))
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of citrus: Citrus Tristeza Virus PDF [149kb]
Disease images - Citrus Tristeza Virus
- Stubborn (Spiroplasma citri (mycoplasma-like organism))
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of citrus: Stubborn disease of citrus PDF [91kb]
- Sweet orange scab (Elsinoe australis)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of citrus: Sweet orange scab PDF [161kb]
Diagnostic images – Sweet orange fruit scab
Insect (invertebrate) pests of citrus
- Citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri)
Fact sheet - Pests of plants: Asian citrus psyllid
Fact sheet - Asian citrus psyllid
Diagnostic images - Asiatic citrus psyllid
Pest images - Citrus psyllid
- False codling moth (Cryptophlebia leucotreta)
Diagnostic images - False codling moth
Pest images - False codling moth
- Navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella)
Fact sheet - Pistachio Navel Orangeworm
Diagnostic images - Navel Orangeworm
- Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis)
Fact sheet - oriental fruit fly
Diagnostic images - Oriental Fruit Fly images
- South African citrus thrips (Scirtothrips aurantii)
Fact sheet - Emerging plant pests - South African citrus thrips
Diagnostic images - South African Citrus Thrips
Cotton
Diseases (pathogens) of cotton
- Bacterial blight, Angular leaf spot (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of cotton: Exotic strains of Bacterial Blight PDF [192kb]
Diagnostic images - Cotton bacterial blight
Disease images - Angular leaf spot of cotton
- Cotton leaf curl disease (Begomovirus Cotton leaf curl virus)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of cotton: Cotton leaf curl virus PDF [350kb]
Diagnostic images - Cotton leaf curl
- Texas root rot (Phymatotrichum omnivora)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of cotton: Texas Root Rot PDF [365kb]
Diagnostic images - Cotton root rot
- Verticillium wilt (defoliating strain) (Verticillium dahliae)
Fact sheet - Cotton - Verticillium wilt
Diagnostic images - Verticillium wilt of cotton
Insect (invertebrate) pests of cotton
- Boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of cotton: Boll Weevil PDF [172kb]
Fact sheet - Boll Weevil - Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman
Diagnostic images - Boll weevil
Pest images - boll weevil
Grains
Diseases (pathogens) of grains
- High plains virus (High plains virus)
Fact sheet - High Plains Virus - Virus of Corn and Other Cereals PDF [231kb]
- Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica)
Fact sheet - Diseases of Plants: Karnal bunt
Fact sheet - Karnal Bunt Fact Sheet
Diagnostic images - Karnal bunt of wheat
Disease images - Karnal bunt
- Wheat spindle streak mosaic virus (Bymovirus wheat spindle streak mosaic virus)
Fact sheet - Wheat spindle streak mosaic bymovirus
Insect (invertebrate) pests of grains
- Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor)
Fact sheet - Hessian fly: An exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [282kb]
Diagnostic images - Hessian fly
Pest images - Hessian fly
- Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium)
Fact sheet - Pests of Plants and Plant Products: Khapra beetle
Fact sheet - Khapra beetle: An exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [64kb]
Diagnostic images - Khapra beetle
- Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia)
Fact sheet - Russian wheat aphid: An exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [422kb]
Diagnostic images - Russian Wheat Aphid
Pest images - Russian wheat aphid
- Rust red flour beetle (resistant) (Tribolium castaneum)
Fact sheet - Red flour beetle (Featured Creatures)
Diagnostic images - rust-red flour beetle (PaDIL)
Nursery and Garden
Diseases (pathogens) of nursery and garden
- Camellia petal blight (Ciborinia camelliae)
Fact sheet - Control of Camellia Petal Blight
Diagnostic images - Camellia flower blight
- Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica)
Fact sheet - Field guide to exotic pests and diseases: Chestnut blight
Diagnostic images - Chestnut blight
Disease images - chestnut blight or canker
- Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma ulmi)
Fact sheet - Field guide to exotic pests and diseases: Dutch elm disease
Fact sheet - Dutch Elm Disease
Diagnostic images - Dutch elm disease
- Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora)
Fact sheet - Fire blight
Fact sheet - Fire Blight, Erwinia amylovora
Fact sheet - Fire blight: Exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [447kb]
Diagnostic images - Apple and pear fire blight
Disease images - fire blight
- Sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum)
Fact sheet - Exotic Pest Alert: Phytophthora ramorum - Sudden Oak Death PDF [185kb]
Diagnostic images - Sudden oak death
Disease images - sudden oak death
Nuts
Diseases (pathogens) of nuts
- Blackline (Nepovirus Cherry leaf roll virus)
Fact sheet - Cherry leaf roll nepovirus
Diagnostic images - Walnut blackline
- Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica)
Fact sheet - Field guide to exotic pests and diseases: Chestnut blight
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of nuts: Chestnut Blight PDF [314kb]
Diagnostic images - Chestnut blight
- Hazelnut blight (Anisogramma anomala)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of nuts: Eastern filbert blight PDF [167kb]
Fact sheet - Data Sheet on Quarantine Pests: Anisogramma anomala PDF [29kb]
Diagnostic images - Eastern filbert blight
- Pierces disease (Xylella fastidiosa)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of nut: Leaf scorch PDF [250kb]
Pest images - bacterial leaf scorch
- Rosellinia root rot (Rosellinia necatrix)
Diagnostic images - White root rot
Insect (invertebrate) pests of nuts
- Navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of nuts: Navel orangeworm PDF [1.38mb]
Fact sheet - Pistachio Navel Orangeworm
Diagnostic images - Navel Orangeworm
Pome (Apple and Pear)
Diseases (pathogens) of pome
- Apple proliferation (Apple proliferation phytoplasma)
Fact sheet - Exotic threat to apple: apple proliferation PDF [80kb]
Fact sheet - Apple proliferation: EC listed disease PDF [68kb]
Disease images - apple proliferation phytoplasma
- Black stem blight (Erwinia pyrifoliae)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of apple and pear: black stem blight PDF [93kb]
- Brown rot (Monilinia fructigena)
Fact sheet - Brown-rot of Stone Fruit
Fact sheet - Brown rot: Monilinia fructigena PDF [286kb]
Diagnostic images - Brown rot of stone fruit
- European canker, Nectria canker (Nectria galligena)
Fact sheet - Exotic threat to apple: European canker PDF [79kb]
Fact sheet - European Canker (Nectria Canker)
- Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora)
Fact sheet - Fire blight
Fact sheet - Fire Blirht, Erwinia amylovora
Fact sheet - Fire blight: Exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [447kb]
Diagnostic images - Apple and pear fire blight
Disease images - fire blight
Insect (invertebrate) pests of pome
- Apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella)
Fact sheet - Exotic threat to apple: apple maggot PDF [111kb]
Fact sheet - Featured Creatures: apple maggot, apple maggot fly
Fact sheet - Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) - Apple Maggot
Pest images - apple maggot
- Asian gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar)
Fact sheet - Pests of Plants and Plant Products: Asian gypsy moth
Fact sheet - Exotic threat to apple and pear: Asian gypsy moth PDF [140kb]
Diagnostic images - Asian gypsy moth (L. dispar dispar race asian)
Diagnostic images - European gypsy moth (L. dispar dispar race Europe)
Diagnostic images - Japanese gypsy moth (L. dispar japonica)
Pest images - Lymantria dispar (Asian & European gypsy moth)
- Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis)
Fact sheet - Exotic threat to apple and pear: oriental fruit fly PDF [139kb]
Fact sheet - Featured Creatures: oriental fruit fly
Diagnostic images - Oriental Fruit Fly
- Pear fruit moth (Numonia pirivorella)
Fact sheet - Data Sheets on Quarantine Pests: Numonia pirivorella PDF [30kb]
Diagnostic images - Pear fruit moth
- Pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola)
Fact sheet - Exotic threat to pear: pear psylla PDF [93kb]
Fact sheet - Pear Psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola)
Fact sheet - Fruit IPM Fact Sheet: Pear Psylla
Pest images - Pear Entomology: Psylla Gallery
- Rosy apple aphid (Dysaphis plantaginea)
Fact sheet - Exotic threat to apple and pear: rosy apple aphid PDF [144kb]
Fact sheet - Rosy Apple Aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini)
Pest image - rosy apple aphid
Diagnostic images – Rose apple aphid
- Summer fruit tortrix (Adoxophyes orana)
Fact sheet - Summer fruit tortix moth
Diagnostic images - Summer fruit tortix
Queensland Fruit and Vegetables
Diseases (pathogens) of fruit and vegetables
- Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) (Begomovirus tomato yellow leaf curl virus)
Fact sheet - Emerging plant pests: Tomato leaf curl virus
Fact sheet - Primefacts: Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in Australia PDF [201kb]
Diagnostic images - Tomato yellow leaf curl virus
Pests (invertebrates) of fruit and vegetables
- False codling moth (Cryptophlebia leucotreta)
Fact sheet - Pest Assessment: False Codling Moth, Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Mayrick), (Lepidoptera: Torticidae) PDF [477kb]
Diagnostic images - False codling moth
Pest images - False codling moth
- Mango pulp weevil (Sternochetus frigidus)
Fact sheet - Pests of plants: Mango pulp weevil
Diagnostic images - Mango Pulp Weevil
- Papaya fruit fly (Bactrocera papayae)
Fact sheet - Exotic plant pests: Papaya fruit fly
Fact sheet - Pests of plants: Exotic fruit flies
Diagnostic images - Asian Papaya Fruit Fly
- Philippine fruit fly (Bactrocera philippinensis)
Diagnostic images - Fruit fly
- Red banded borer, Red banded mango caterpillar (Deanolis albizonalis)
Fact sheet - Exotic plant pests: Red banded mango caterpillar
Diagnostic images - Red banded mango caterpillar
Rice
Diseases (pathogens) of rice
- Kernel smut of rice (Tilletia barclayana)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of rice: Kernel smut PDF [921kb]
Fact sheet - Kernel Smut
- Rice blast (Magnaporthe grisea)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of rice: Rice blast PDF [2.19mb]
Fact sheet: Rice Blast
Diagnostic images - Rice blast disease
Insect (invertebrate) pests of rice
- Golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of rice: Golden apple snail PDF [1.10mb]
Fact sheet - Featured Creatures: applesnails
Diagnostic images - Golden Apple Snail
- Khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium)
Fact sheet - Pests of Plants and Plant Products: Khapra beetle
Diagnostic images - Khapra beetle
- Rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of rice: Rice water weevil PDF [1.2mb]
Fact sheet - Rice Water Weevil
Fact sheet - Rice Water Weevil
Diagnostic images - Rice water weevil
Strawberry
Diseases (pathogens) of strawberry
- Angular leaf spot (Xanthomonas fragariae)
Fact sheet - Bacterial Angular Leaf Spot of Strawberry
Diagnostic images - Angular leaf spot of Strawberry
Disease images - angular leaf spot
- Nepoviruses – general (Nepovirus)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of strawberry: nepoviruses PDF [172kb]
- Phytophthora, Red stele rot (Phytophthora fragariae var. fragariae)
Fact sheet - Exotic threat of strawberry: Red stele rot PDF [205kb]
Fact sheet - Red Stele
Fact sheet - Red Stele Root Rot of Strawberry
Diagnostic images - Strawberry red stele
Insect (invertebrate) pests of strawberry
- Rough strawberry weevil (Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus)
Diagnostic images - Rough strawberry weevil
- Strawberry bud weevil (Anthonomus bisignifer)
Fact sheet - Data Sheet on Quarantine Pests: Anthonomus signatus PDF [28kb]
Diagnostic images - Strawberry weevil
- Strawberry tortrix (Acleris comariana)
Fact sheet - Arthropods of Economic Importance: Acleris comariana
Diagnostic images - Strawberry tortrix moth
- Tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats of strawberry: Exotic plant bugs PDF [124kb]
Fact sheet - Featured Creatures: tarnished plant bug
Pest images - tarnished plant bug
- Western plant bug (Lygus hesperus)
Fact sheet - Lygus bug
Sugar
Diseases (pathogens) of sugar
- Brown spot (Cercospora longipes)
- Grassy shoot (Sugarcane grassy shoot phytoplasma)
- Leaf scorch (Stagonospora sacchari)
Diagnostic images - Sugarcane leaf scorch
- Ramu Stunt (Unknown)
Diagnostic images - Ramu stunt
- Streak mosaic, sugarcane streak mosaic (Sugarcane streak mosaic virus)
- Sugarcane downy mildew (Peronosclerospora sacchari)
- Sugarcane smut (Ustilago scitaminea)
Fact sheet - Sugarcane Smut
Diagnostic images - Sugarcane Smut
- White leaf (Sugarcane White Leaf Phytoplasma)
Diagnostic images - White leaf disease of sugarcane
Insect (invertebrate) pests of sugar
- Canegrub (Lepidiota blanchardi, L. discedens, L. pruinosa, L. reuleauxi and L. stigma)
- Canegrub (Leucopholis near armata)
- Grey borer, sugarcane shoot borer (Tetramoera schistaceana)
- Pulvinaria scale (Pulvinaria iceryi)
- South African maize leafhopper (Cicadulina mbila)
- Stem borer (Sesamia grisescens)
Diagnostic images - Ramu shoot borer
- Sugarcane planthopper, sidewinder (Perkinsiella bicoloris, P. diagoras, P. lalokensis, P. rattlei, P. papuensis, P. saccharivora, P. vastatrix and P. vitiensis)
- Sugarcane pyrilla, sugarcane leafhopper (Pyrilla perpusilla)
- Sugarcane stem borer (Chilo auricilius, C. infuscatellus, C. sacchariphagus, C. terrenellus)
Diagnostic images - Stem borer (C. terrenellus)
- Sugarcane whitefly (Aleurolobus barodensis)
Diagnostic images - Sugarcane whitefly
- Sugarcane woolly aphid (Ceratovacuna lanigera)
Fact sheet - Sugarcane Woolly Aphid Ceratovacuna lanigera and its management
Diagnostic images - Sugarcane woolly aphid
- Top borer, top shoot borer (Scirpophaga excerptalis)
Summerfruit (Stone Fruit)
Diseases (pathogens) of summerfruit
- Black knot (Apiosporina morbosa)
Fact sheet - Black Knot, Apiosporina morbosa
Fact sheet - Black Knot of Plums and Cherries
Diagnostic images - Black knot of stone fruit
- European stone fruit yellows (Candidatus phytoplasma mali)
Diagnostic images - European stone fruit yellows
- Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora)
Fact sheet - Fire blight
Fact sheet - Fire Blight, Erwinia amylovora
Fact sheet - Fire blight: Exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [447kb]
Diagnostic images - Apple and pear fire blight
Disease images - fire blight
- Peach X disease (Peach X disease phytoplasma)
Fact sheet - X-Disease
Fact sheet - X-Disease (Mycoplasma disease of peaches and nectarines)
Diagnostic images - Peach X disease
- Plum pox virus (Sharka) (Potyvirus plum pox virus)
Fact sheet - Diseases of plants: Plum pox
Fact sheet - Exotic plant pests - Plum pox (sharka)
Disease images - plum pox virus
Insect (invertebrate) pests of summerfruit
- Plum weevil (Conotrachelus nenuphar)
Pest images - plum cuculio
Diagnostic images - Plum curculio
Vegetables
Diseases (pathogens) of vegetables
- Asparagus rust (Puccinia asparagi)
Fact sheet - Emerging plant pests - Asparagus rust
Diagnostic images - Asparagus rust
- Potato spindle tuber viroid (Potato spindle tuber viroid)
Disease images - Potato Spindle Tuber Viroid
- Ring rot (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus)
Fact sheet - Ring rot: Exotic threats to Western Australia PDF [162kb]
Diagnostic images - Potato ring rot
Insect (invertebrate) pests of vegetables
- Armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta)
Fact sheet - Armyworm PDF [929kb]
Diagnostic images - Armyworm
Pest images - BugGuide: Species Mythimna unipuncta - Armyworm
- Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
Fact sheet - Colorado Potato Beetle - Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Fact sheet - Feature Creatures: Colorado potato beetle
Fact sheet - Colorado potato beetle: exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [152kb]
Diagnostic images - Colorado potato beetle
- Lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri)
Fact sheet - Primefacts: Currant lettuce aphid PDF [241kb]
Diagnostic images - Currant lettuce aphid
- Potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis)
Fact sheet - Potato Cyst Nematode
Fact sheet - Potato cyst nematodes: Exotic threats to Western Australia PDF [148kb]
Diagnostic images - potato cyst nematode
- Vegetable leaf miner (Liriomyza sativae)
Fact sheet - Exotic threats to vegetables: Liriomyza sativae - Vegetable leaf miner PDF [82kb]
Diagnostic images - Vegetable leaf miner
Viticulture
Diseases (pathogens) of viticulture
- Black rot (Guignardia bidwellii)
Fact sheet - Black rot Guignardia bidwellii PDF [113kb]
Diagnostic images - Black rot of grape
Disease images - black rot
- Grapevine leaf rust (Phakopsora euvitis)
Fact sheet - Exotic plant pests - Grapevine leaf rust
Diagnostic images - Grapevine leaf rust
- Grape root rot (Roesleria subterranea)
Diagnostic images - Grape root rot
- Pierce's disease (Xylella fastidiosa)
Fact sheet - Exotic plant pests - Pierce's disease and glassy winged sharpshooter
Fact sheet - Pierce's disease and its most effective vector - the Glassy-winged sharpshooter: Exotic threats to Western Australia PDF [601kb]
- Texas root rot (Phymatotrichum omnivorum)
Fact sheet - Disease of grape (Vitis vinifera): Texas (Cotton) root rot
Diagnostic images – Cotton root rot
Insect (invertebrate) pests of viticulture
- Grape Phylloxera Type B (Daktulosphaira vitifolii)
Fact sheet - Phylloxera
Fact sheet - Grape phylloxera: Exotic threat to Western Australia PDF [197kb]
Fact sheet - Exotic plant pests - grape phylloxera
Diagnostic images - Grape phylloxera
Last Updated: 25 Jul 2008
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