Pest Identification: Common Australian Garden Pests with Photos

Know Your Enemy

Accurate pest identification is the first step to effective management. Many organic sprays and biological controls are highly specific — they work on one type of pest but not another. Misidentification wastes money and time.

Aphids

Tiny (1–3mm), soft-bodied, usually green or black. Cluster on new growth. Leave sticky honeydew and sooty mould. Damage: distorted growth, yellowing, virus transmission. Manage with water jets, neem oil, beneficial insects.

Caterpillars / Loopers

Holes in leaves, often with frass (droppings) nearby. Many species in Australia. Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars are pale green on brassicas. Helicoverpa (cotton bollworm) attacks tomato and corn. Manage with Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) spray — organic and highly effective.

Whitefly

Tiny white insects that fly up in clouds when disturbed. Lay scale-like eggs on leaf undersides. Heavy infestations cause yellowing and honeydew. Manage with yellow sticky traps, neem oil, strong water jets.

Mealybug

White, waxy, cottony masses in leaf axils and on stems. Common on citrus, gardenias, and houseplants. Manage with neem oil, white oil, or rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab for small infestations.