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Sugarcane top borer is one of the highest exotic pest risks for the Australian sugar industry. This species is a major pest of sugarcane in Asia, but is also known to attack sorghum. Infestation can result in significant yield losses. This species occurs widely across southern Asia, from India across to southern China, and down to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It is not present in Australia.

The Sugarcane stem borer is a major threat to Australia’s sugarcane industry. Currently this moth species only occurs in New Guinea and on some islands of the Torres Strait. It is not present in mainland Australia. They are particularly difficult to control because their feeding strategy enables them to evade both pesticides and natural enemies. The most likely way this species could be introduced to Australia is through illegal importation of infested plant material.

Island sugarcane planthopper is a serious pest of sugarcane, in large part because it can infect plants with Ramu stunt disease. This insect is found directly to the north of Australia, in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and in the Torres Strait. The insect is also present in Cape York Peninsula, however it is understood that the Torres Strait and Cape York populations do not carry the virus that causes Ramu stunt disease. Despite its presence in Australia, the restricted distribution in Cape York and absence of the Ramu stunt pathogen means that Island sugarcane leafhopper remains a high risk exotic pest.

This pest, also known as the Ramu shoot borer, is a moth that only occurs on New Guinea and some surrounding islands. However, it is the most serious pest of commercial sugarcane in Papua New Guinea and is one of the highest exotic plant pest risks for the Australian sugar industry. In addition to sugarcane, this species can also feed on rice and on a range of other related grasses. They are particularly difficult to control because their feeding strategy enables them to evade both pesticides and natural enemies.

The New Guinea fruit fly is one of the highest risk agricultural pests found around the globe. It is not present in Australia. The species currently occurs in Papua New Guinea and Indonesian West Papua, but there is a risk of it being introduced to Australia through the Torres Strait, or via illegally imported fruit. It poses a significant threat to Australian fruit growing industries above and beyond those of other fruit fly pests that are already present.

The Melon fruit fly is perhaps the most damaging exotic pest of plants from the gourd family. This includes all commercially-grown melons, and many vegetables such as cucumber, pumpkin, squash and zucchini. It is also a major pest of other produce, including mango, avocado, oranges, peach, passionfruit and pawpaw. The species (previously known as Bactrocera cucurbitae) is likely native to India but is now widespread across nearly all of southern Asia, much of Africa and many pacific islands including Papua New Guinea. It is not present in Australia, but there is risk of it being introduced through illegally fruit or vegetables or by natural dispersal into Northern Australia.

Pine sawyer beetles (Monochamus spp.) attack many types of pine tree and some other conifer species. Although none of the known pest species of this group are currently found in Australia, the Japanese pine sawyer beetle is of particular concern – it is a significant problem in many parts of the world and is the species of pine sawyer beetle that is most likely to invade Australia. It is native to Japan but is now widespread across the temperate parts of east Asia. These beetles pose a major threat to commercial pine and other conifer plantations because they are highly effective vectors of Pine Wilt Nematode infection. This disease can kill infected trees in a matter of months.

Grain stem gall midges are three related species of tiny flies. Their adult stages are shortlived but the larval stages of these midges are serious pests of grain crops. While no grain stem gall midge species are currently found in Australia, they have a major impact on grain production overseas – particularly in Europe and North America. Each of the main pest species of this group are quite specialized to feed on either wheat (Hessian fly, Mayetiola destructor), barley (Barley stem gall midge, Mayetiola hordei) or oats (Oat midge, Mayetiola avenae) respectively. Chemical control of these midges is generally ineffective because the larvae migrate to and feed within the stem base of host plants

European flower thrips is an exotic pest species not found in Australia. It is a serious agricultural pest that can decimate crops by reducing crop quality, quantity and marketability. It is distributed throughout the Americas, including the United States, Europe and the Asia Pacific, including New Zealand. European flower thrips can act as vectors for tospoviruses, including tomato chlorotic spot virus, groundnut ringspot virus, impatiens necrotic spot orthotospovirus, and tomato spotted wilt virus.

Florida flower thrips infests most angiosperms (flowering plants) and is a serious agricultural pest found overseas. It is native to the United States, generally being restricted to Florida and southern Georgia. This exotic pest species is not found in Australia. Florida flower thrips can act as a vector for tospoviruses, including tomato chlorotic spot virus, groundnut ringspot virus, impatiens necrotic spot orthotospovirus, and tomato spotted wilt virus. Florida flower thrips has a very broad host range and can feed on a variety of crops including citrus, blueberries, tomato, pepper, eggplant, cucumber, watermelon, squash, beans, strawberry, sweet corn, as well as ornamentals.

Cotton aphid is a serious pest of cotton that can also infest over 700 plant species, including citrus, melon, and cucurbit species. They are globally distributed and are found throughout Australia. However, there are exotic strains of cotton aphid not yet found in Australia that may carry exotic pathogens or demonstrate different insecticide resistance profiles. Cotton aphid is known to be a vector for over 50 different plant diseases including cotton bunchy top disease and mosaic viruses.

Citrus blackfly is a serious pest that can infest over 300 host plants including citrus (preferred host), avocado, banana, coffee, ginger, grape, and papaya. It is native to India and is now commonly found throughout the United States and South America, Africa, and throughout the Asia Pacific. While this species is exotic to Australia it is found in neighbouring Papua New Guinea.

he Burrowing nematode is a significant parasite of banana and tropical fruit. It is commonly found in tropical regions of Africa, the Americas and the Asia Pacific region, including Australia. Although this species is present in Australia, exotic pathotypes represent a biosecurity risk. This includes Fijian pathotypes, which can parasitise a more expansive range of host plants, including ginger, potato, tea, and maize (this is not the case for Burrowing nematode populations currently found in Australia). Introduction of an exotic pathotype of Burrowing nematode could result in a broadened host range and distribution, and higher yield impacts in comparison to what is currently observed from Australian populations.

Californian bean thrips are native to California and are widely distributed throughout the Americas and Africa. Incursions have occurred in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, however this species of thrips is not present in Australia. Adults are capable of short-range flight, but movement is largely associated with wind dispersal or fruit movement. Californian bean thrips mainly feed on legumes (Family Fabaceae) but can infest a variety of weed species, with adults frequently found on citrus fruit. They are a high priority pest species owing to high infestation rates of tree and row crops, including avocados, pears, beans, and lettuce.