Popular search terms

High priority exotic pests

The following are some of the high priority exotic pests of apples and pears, as identified in the development of the Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Apple and Pear Industry.

Any of these pests would have serious consequences should they enter and become established in Australia. Additional information is included in the fact sheets. Implementing biosecurity measures to control endemic pests will go a long way towards preventing exotic pests from entering and becoming established on your farm.

For a complete list of exotic pest threats for apples and pears, contact Apple and Pear Australia for a copy of the industry biosecurity plan.

Dysaphis plantaginea. Photo by Jack Kelly Clark, UC Statewide IPM Program

Rosy apple aphid

  • Apple trees are the preferred hosts
  • Aphids range from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm in length and from dark green to rosy purple and black in colour as they develop
  • Leaf symptoms include curling, discolouration and appearance of sooty mould on the surface
  • Affected fruit clusters are severely distorted and growth is stunted
  • Severe infestations can damage up to 50% of fruit in an orchard

Fact sheet

Erwinia amylovora. Photo by Clemson University – USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org

Fireblight

  • Infects a range of pome fruit species
  • Damage occurs on leaves, branches, shoots, blossoms and fruit tissue
  • Infection results in tissue death, together with bacterial ooze droplets on infected tissue
  • Infected shoots often bend near the tip to form a ‘shepherd’s crook’ shape
  • Spread with infected plant material and through wind dispersal
  • Establishment of Fire blight would impact market access

Fact sheet

Gymnosporangium juniper-virginianae. Photo by University of Georgia Plant Pathology Archive, Bugwood.org

Cedar apple rust

  • Only infects apples and cedar (Juniperus virginiana), and requires both hosts to complete its life cycle
  • Infected fruit and leaves develop yellow-orange lesions on the surface and in some varieties spore-producing tufts also develop
  • Lesions are raised and can crack as the fruit enlarges
  • Stems may develop a slight swelling
  • Galls with finger-like projections are produced on cedar hosts
  • Spread with infected plant material or by wind dispersal

Fact sheet

Photo by John H Ghent, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Asian gypsy moth

  • Very wide host range, with over 650 known hosts
  • Egg masses laid on any available solid surface and usually covered in yellow or light tan fuzz
  • Caterpillar is large (50-65 mm long) and hairy with two rows of spots (red and blue) along their back
  • Moths have greyish-brown wings (30-40 mm wingspan) in males or white with grey markings (40-70 mm wingspan) in females
  • Larval stage causes heavy defoliation of trees and shrubs, and may produce large amounts of webbing

Fact sheet

Monilinia fructigena. Photo by University of Georgia Plant Pathology Archive, Bugwood.org

Apple brown rot

  • Infects a range of fruit trees and berries
  • Produces similar symptoms to Brown rot in stone fruit
  • Fruit develop rapidly spreading, firm, brown spots that progress to/into rotting
  • Rotting areas covered or surrounded by creamy-white pustules, often in concentric circles
  • Infected fruit can become mummified on the tree
  • Blighted twigs with cankers can also develop
  • Spread by wind, rain and with infected plant material

Fact sheet

Latest News
Useful Links