Plant diseases and pests

Introduction

These pages are for producers and the public to help identify pests and diseases found on agricultural, horticultural, ornamental and home garden plants.

Exotic plant pest and disease outbreaks

This page has information to help you identify and report exotic plant pests and diseases found in the Northern Territory (NT).

If you see any plant pest or disease you think is suspicious, report it to the exotic plant pest hotline 1800 084 881.

You can also contact Plant Biosecurity by calling 08 8999 2118 or emailing plantbiosecurity@nt.gov.au.

Banana freckle

Banana freckle is a disease of banana leaves and fruit. It's a declared pest under Plant Health Act 2008.

This disease has been detected in the Batchelor – Rum Jungle region and Middle Point area.

If you think you have seen banana freckle in the NT, call 1800 084 881.

Read more about banana freckle.

Asian honey bee

The NT is on the alert for Asian honey bees, which are a significant threat to the honey and pollination industries.

They can carry varroa, tropilaelaps and tracheal mites and can also spread other pests or diseases to European honey bees, which are used to produce honey.

Read more about the Asian honey bee alert and how to report sightings of unusual bees.

European foulbrood

This is a notifiable honey bee disease in the NT.

Read more about bee diseases and how to protect your bee hives.

American foulbrood

American foulbrood is a fatal bacterial disease of honey bee brood. It was detected in Alice Springs in 2019 and 2020 but has since been eradicated.

It has not been detected outside of the Alice Springs township.

Heavy infections can affect most of the brood, severely weakening the colony and eventually killing it. It is a notifiable disease and must be reported.

Read more about American foulbrood.

Browsing ants

Browsing ants were found at Darwin Port and 2 neighbouring sites in 2015.

Browsing ants (Lepisiota frauenfeldi ) are exotic and are not established in Australia.

They form large colonies and eat and displace native ant species, as well as other insects in the infested area. They are not harmful to humans.

Read more about browsing ants and other exotic ants that are endangering the NT environment.

Fire ants

Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) is an invasive fire ant.

They are not yet detected in the NT, but they could potentially spread from south-east Queensland.

Read more about fire ants.

Pests and diseases

Plant diseases

If you notice an unusual disease on your plants, or need advice about how to control it, contact Plant Pathology.

Plant pests

If you notice an unusual insect on your plants or need advice about control, contact Entomology.

They provide a free identification and advice service to growers and the general public.

Read about the top 10 plant pests in the Northern Territory (NT). PDF (2.4 MB)

How to submit a plant or pest for identification

You can send a plant or insect sample to get it identified in three ways.

  • by courier
  • by mail
  • by hand.

Go to the contacts page for the address for courier and mail deliveries.

You can deliver a sample by hand to the following place:

Berrimah Agricultural Laboratory (BAL) building reception
Berrimah Farm
Makagon Road
Berrimah.

You can leave your specimen in the specially-provided plastic specimen receiving box at reception.

If you want to talk to someone about your specimen or hand it over in person, use the phone at reception and dial 92258 or 92228 (if you have an insect) or 92261 (if you have a plant sample) and a staff member will come and receive your specimen.

For information on how to prepare plant specimens for disease diagnosis read the Agnote How to Submit Plant Specimens for Disease Diagnosis PDF (41.5 KB).

Search the insect database

You can search the NT insects database to identify insect pests and find out the damage they cause.

You can search on various criteria including insect name, host plant or type of damage.

You can print fact sheets containing images and information about an insect.

Other information

For more information about plant pests and diseases, and how to recognise and treat them, go to the Plant Health Australia website.

Fruit and vegetables

The following links contain information on common or agriculturally important pests and diseases of fruit and vegetable crops in the NT.

Ornamentals and natives

The following links contain information on interesting and common pests and diseases of both ornamental and native plants. These may be of interest to the nursery and garden industry, amenity horticulture and general public.

Home gardens

The following links contain information commonly requested by home gardeners on plant pests and diseases.

Plant pathology and entomology contacts

The plant pathology and entomology sections are based at Berrimah Farm on Makagon Road, Berrimah.

Plant pathology

Email plant.pathology@nt.gov.au or call 08 8999 2218.

Entomology - pests and beneficials

Email insectinfo@nt.gov.au or call 08 8999 2258.

Exotic Plant Pest Hotline

Call 1800 084 881.

Sample submission

To send samples for identification to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, use the addresses below.

Courier addresses

For plants

Plant Pathology Section
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Berrimah Farm
Makagon Road
Berrimah NT 0828

For insects

Entomology Section
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Berrimah Farm
Makagon Road
Berrimah NT 0828

Postal addresses

For plants

Plant Pathology Section
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
GPO Box 3000
Darwin NT 0801

For insects

Entomology Section
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
GPO Box 3000
Darwin NT 0801