Pests and Diseases 

There are a number of pests and diseases not currently known to occur in the NT. Some of these pests and diseases pose a major threat to our interstate and international agricultural export industries. We rely upon the travelling public to be aware of these pests and diseases to help protect our Territory.

An extensive interacive database of pests and their hosts can be found at http://pestinfo.nt.gov.au

Pests (Fruit Flies)

There are three species of fruit flies which are of particular concern to the Northern Territory. They are Mediterranean fruit fly, Cucumber fly and Banana fly.

Mediterraean Fruit Fly
Is found in Western Australia except in the Ord Irrigation area (Kununurra). Hosts fruits are all fruits other than pineapple and includes tomatoes and avocados. Vegetable hosts are chilli, capsicum eggplant and choko.

Cucumber Fly
Cucumber Fly occurs on the Queensland East Coast and extends to northern New South Wales. Hosts of this pest include cucumber, zucchini, melons, pumpkin, squash, tomatoes, pawpaw, passionfruit and guada beans

Banana Fly
Banana Fly occurs in north Queensland. The only hosts to this pest are bananas and plantains. Bananas are not permitted entry to the Northern Territory from northern Queensland, or if the origin of the bananas is not known.

Other Plant Pests and Diseases

Other major pests of concern are Western Flower Thrips,  Potato Cyst Nematode, Grape Phylloxera and Red Imported Fire Ants, none of which are known to occur in the NT.

Western Flower Thrips occur in every state in Australia except the NT and Tasmania. Grape phylloxera presently only occurs in Victoria and New South Wales. Potato Cyst Nematode is currently only found in Victoria and Western Australia, while Spiraling Whitefly and Red Imported Fire Ants are only found in Queensland. To see a list of the host produce of these pests, click here.

There are a number of soil borne diseases which are of major concern to the Northern Territory. For this reason it is not permitted to bring any soil into the NT unless it has been steam pasteurised or methyl bromide fumigated.

Other diseases of specific concern but are not soil borne include Grapevine Leaf Rust, Sweet Orange Stem Pitting (SOSP) strain of citrus tristeza virus and avocado sunblotch viroid.

Agnotes on some of the above pests and diseases are available from DoR publications