Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Biosecurity Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Biosecurity factsheets

Articles 1 - 30 of 38

Full-Text Articles in Biosecurity

Bathurst Burr And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Sep 2026

Bathurst Burr And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Bathurst burr (Xanthium spinosum) is a declared pest in Western Australia (WA). This factsheet describes the nature of the plant, requirements land owners/occupiers must adhere to, control methods, and how to search, detect, and report it.

Bathurst burr is a summer growing annual shrubby plant originating in South America. In south west Australia, some mature plants survive well into winter, with the result that burrs may be found for most of the year. The weed spreads entirely by burrs, which are usually carried by people or animals, attached to clothes, fur, or other fibre by their hooked spines. They may …


Noogoora Burr And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Sep 2026

Noogoora Burr And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Noogoora burr, also known as cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium), is a declared pest in Western Australia (WA). This factsheet describes the nature of the plant with links to requirements that land owners/occupiers must adhere to and control methods.

Native to western United States of America. Locally abundant in parts of the Kimberley, especially near water courses. Occasionally found in the South West region of WA.


How To Identify Leafhoppers, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Oct 2025

How To Identify Leafhoppers, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

These tiny plant-feeding insects are often considered pests due to the damage they can inflict on crops and gardens. Leafhoppers, treehoppers and spittlebugs (or froghoppers) are closely related to cicadas, and planthoppers are their more distant relatives. As their names suggest, most of them can hop.


Identifying Land Snails, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Oct 2025

Identifying Land Snails, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Snails can be voracious eaters, destroying leafy vegetables, cereal crops, pasture grasses and some native plants. From time to time, exotic snails are intercepted in cargo, machinery, vehicles and packaging and then destroyed.

Snail species may be native or already established in Westen Australia; however, your reports will help detect exotic snails early and prevent them from invading gardens, agriculture and the environment.


Options For Fox Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Sep 2025

Options For Fox Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Foxes can cause significant losses to some agricultural producers, and they prey on many native animals. The best option is to control foxes before they become a problem. This factsheet explains the available options fox control and when these options should be used


1080 Baiting Information For Pet Owners, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Jul 2025

1080 Baiting Information For Pet Owners, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

A must for pest control, but a risk to domestic pets.

1080 is the brand name given to the chemical compound sodium monofluoroacetate. It is the synthetically produced sodium salt of fluoroacetate and produced as a white powder which is odorless and tasteless to humans. 1080 has been developed for incorporating into various bait formulations for the control of vertebrate pests including wild dogs, foxes, feral cats, and feral pigs.


Citrus Gall Wasp Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Jan 2025

Citrus Gall Wasp Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Citrus gall wasp (Bruchophagus fellis) is an Australian native insect from northern NSW and Queensland and is now established in most Perth suburbs. It affects all citrus species, particularly lemons and grapefruit, and will be an ongoing pest to manage for Perth gardeners, like other common pests. It has not been found in commercial citrus orchards in Western Australia yet.


Rabbit Control: Bait Products, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Rabbit Control: Bait Products, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet is part of the bait and poison directory for vertebrate pests in Western Australia (WA). It provides information on bait, poison, and toxin (bait) products available for use in WA to control rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

For information on how to access bait, poison and toxin (bait) products, training required, animal welfare considerations and legal requirements, refer to the Bait and poison directory for vertebrate pests’ page on the website at dpird.wa.gov.au. Information on bait, poison, and toxin (bait) products available for use in WA for rabbits, is provided below.


Cane Toad, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Cane Toad, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet provides information about the identification, biology, impact, and management of the cane toad.

The cane toad (Rhinella marina), or giant toad, is native to central and South America. It has been introduced to many countries, including northern and eastern Australia. The cane toad is a declared pest under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) in Western Australia (WA). The Western Australian Organism List (WAOL), available on the website at dpird.wa.gov.au) contains information on the area(s) in which this pest is declared, and the control and keeping categories to which it has been assigned in WA.


Reportable Animal Diseases – Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Reportable Animal Diseases – Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

In Western Australia, the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 requires that certain diseases must be reported if they are known or suspected to be present.

This table shows which diseases must be reported.


Yellow Crazy Ant, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Yellow Crazy Ant, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) are believed to be native to west Africa or Asia. They are not present in Western Australia (WA) and are prohibited.

Yellow crazy ants were first observed in Australia in the early 1900’s on the Cocos-Keeling Islands and Christmas Island, where they have now caused a massive decline in the population of iconic red crabs. More recently, they have been recorded in Queensland, the Northern Territory (NT), and New South Wales (NSW).


European Wasp Baiting Trial 2020, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

European Wasp Baiting Trial 2020, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

A Western Australian-first baiting program implemented by the department to eradicate European wasps from a 9 km stretch of rugged and largely inaccessible bushland of the Darling Scarp yielded promising results.


Pest Bird Control: Bait / Toxin Products, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Pest Bird Control: Bait / Toxin Products, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet provides information on the bait, poison and toxin (bait) products available for use in Western Australia (WA) to control pest birds.


Mesquite And Its Control: Prosopis Species And Hybrids, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Mesquite And Its Control: Prosopis Species And Hybrids, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Mesquite (all Prosopis species and hybrids) are declared pests in Western Australia (WA). This factsheet describes the nature of the plant with links to requirements landowners/occupiers must adhere to and pest control methods.


Rubber Vine And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Rubber Vine And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Rubber vine, Palay rubbervine, India rubbervine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) is a declared pest in Western Australia (WA). Rubber vine chokes river catchment areas and is highly toxic to livestock.


Rabbit Control: Warren And Harbourage Destruction, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Rabbit Control: Warren And Harbourage Destruction, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

If correctly and appropriately undertaken, the destruction of rabbit warrens, or modification of the habitat so it becomes less favourable to rabbits, can be an important and effective part of reducing the impacts of rabbits.

Destruction of warrens can improve the overall effectiveness of rabbit control programs, even though many rabbits live and shelter above-ground under bushes, and in scrub). If undertaken properly, the ripping of rabbit warrens can often provide a relatively permanent and long-term benefit. Similarly, removing or modifying other forms of rabbit-harbourage (for example, removing rock piles) can help, particularly in semi-urban areas or on smallholdings.


Rabbit Control In Urban And Semi-Urban Areas, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Rabbit Control In Urban And Semi-Urban Areas, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet provides information on control options for rabbits in urban and semi-urban areas in Western Australia (WA).

Rabbits cause considerable losses to agricultural and horticultural industries. They can cause serious environmental problems, such as soil erosion and degradation of native vegetation. Rabbits also compete with native fauna for food and habitat.

Rabbits may be a problem or a nuisance in urban environments where they can damage lawns and gardens, buildings, garages, and sheds. Rabbits can also damage golf courses, sports grounds, and parkland reserves.

The options for control of rabbits in urban areas are more limited than in rural …


Water Lettuce And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Water Lettuce And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is a declared pest in Western Australia (WA). This factsheet describes the nature of the plant with links to requirements landowners/occupiers must adhere to and pest control methods.


Adopt-A-Trap To Help Detect European Wasps, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Adopt-A-Trap To Help Detect European Wasps, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Early detection of European wasp is important to prevent the spread and establishment of nests, and the Adopt-a-trap program is a key part of annual European wasp surveillance.

The department intensively traps the highest risk areas of the state, but the Adopt-a-trap program can extend surveillance beyond these areas and into the regions to enhance community surveillance.

The trapping method used in the Adopt-a-trap program is very successful in catching European wasps. They address the wasps’ sense of smell and foraging habits to find food. Trapped wasps are useful in alerting us to the presence of a nearby nest — …


Argentine Ants, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Argentine Ants, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) are small, brown, and notorious worldwide for being one of the most difficult and costly ants to control, as it can involve ongoing and repetitive use of residual, contact insecticides. The ants are established in Western Australia (WA).


Electric Ant (Little Fire Ant), Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Electric Ant (Little Fire Ant), Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The electric ant (Wasmannia auropunctata), also known as little fire ant, is a tiny, gold-brown coloured ant, and one of the world's most invasive pests. Electric ants prey on and compete with other insects and can displace large numbers of native animals, ants, and other insects.

They affect human health and lifestyle, can inflict painful stings on humans and wild and domestic animals, can blind pets, damage the environment, and have the potential to severely affect agricultural industries.

The electric ant is native to Central and South America and was first detected in Australia in 2006 in Queensland, where there …


Rabbit Fencing To Protect Crops And Pastures, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Rabbit Fencing To Protect Crops And Pastures, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

This factsheet outlines the use of fencing to protect crops and pasture from rabbits.

Rabbits cause an estimated loss of $217 million each year to Australian agricultural production and cause significant environmental damage. In Western Australia (WA), areas of native vegetation, particularly on sandy ridges that would otherwise be subject to wind erosion, have been retained on farms. Bush remnants are a major refuge habitat for rabbits, which can cause considerable damage to nearby pastures and crops. A measure of rabbit control can be achieved by poisoning around bush remnants in late summer or autumn, prior to seeding. To be …


Gorse And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

Gorse And Its Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is a declared pest in Western Australia (WA). This factsheet describes the nature of the plant with links to requirements that landowners/occupiers must adhere to, pest control methods and how to search, detect and report it.

Gorse is a Weed of National Significance (WoNS) present in Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory; it is not present in the Northern Territory. Gorse is a declared pest plant in WA.


European Wasp: Declared Pest, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

European Wasp: Declared Pest, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The European wasp is one of the worst wasps in the world — harmful to people, outdoor lifestyles, and horticultural and agricultural industries. Early detection of wasp activity is critical to prevent the wasp establishing in Western Australia (WA). This is achieved via collaboration between residents, businesses, industry, and government.


European Wasp Information For Local Government, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Nov 2024

European Wasp Information For Local Government, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The department’s European wasp surveillance and eradication program is a yearly campaign, aimed at detecting the presence of this destructive pest as early as possible so that nests can be found and eradicated.

The continued success of European wasp surveillance and eradication program relies on surveillance in metropolitan Perth and regional areas, strong community awareness, and participation between residents, business owners, community groups, industry, and government.


Feral Pigs And Their Control With 1080 Baiting, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Oct 2024

Feral Pigs And Their Control With 1080 Baiting, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Feral pigs are the descendants of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa), which were first brought to Australia by early European colonists. Feral pigs cause a range of agricultural and environmental damage in Western Australia (WA), so control measures are important.


Feral Camel, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Oct 2024

Feral Camel, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

No abstract provided.


Feral Donkey, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Oct 2024

Feral Donkey, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Donkeys (Equus asinus) were first imported in substantial numbers to Australia in 1866 by Sir Thomas Elder. They were used as pack and draught animals in outlying areas of Western Australia (WA) until the 1930s. They were eventually replaced by the motor vehicle, and unwanted donkeys were released to the wild, where they became feral. The first record of feral donkeys is from the Kimberley in the early 1930s, but it is possible they became feral much earlier.


Blackbird, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Oct 2024

Blackbird, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The introduced common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a pest in eastern Australia. It damages commercial fruit crops and may compete with native birds. The species is prohibited in Western Australia and individuals found here are destroyed.

The Western Australian Organism List (WAOL) contains information on the area(s) in which this pest is declared and the control and keeping categories to which it has been assigned in Western Australia (WA). For more information, see our website at dpird.wa.gov.au.


Feral Goat, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia Oct 2024

Feral Goat, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The goat (Capra hircus) was one of the first animals to be domesticated, 8 to 10 thousand years ago. Archaeological work indicates the earliest attempts at domestication were in dry hills surrounding the Mediterranean basin. The ability of goats to utilise the coarse browse of mountainous areas made them suitable for domestication, in preference to sheep. With large-scale domestication of goats throughout the world, goats escaped and established feral goat herds on most continents. Overgrazing by goats has caused severe environmental damage, worldwide.

Goats arrived in Australia with the first fleet. They were introduced to many areas by early settlers …