The following are some key high priority exotic pest threats for the Australian grains industry as identified through the development of the Industry Biosecurity Plan for the Grains Industry. Any of these pests would have serious consequences should they enter and become established in Australia.
Information about other pests of grain and pests of rice is available from the grains industry page or the rice industry page on the Plant Health Australia website.
Implementing biosecurity measures to control endemic pests will go a long way towards preventing exotic pests from entering and becoming established on your farm.
To improve biosecurity measures on your farm, include exotic pests when undertaking routine pest surveillance activities. Ensure that all surveillance activities, for both endemic and exotic pests, are recorded. Visit Records for templates to record surveillance results.
Tilletia indica: Photo by PaDIL
Karnal bunt
Hosts are wheat, durum and triticale
Parts of seeds are blackened and crush relatively easily
Infected grain has a distinct fishy smell
If it became established in Australia, access to over 45 international markets would be restricted and grain price would be significantly reduced
Trogoderma granarium: Photo by Ministry of Agriculture and regional Development Archive, Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development, Hungary, Bugwood.org
Khapra beetle
Adults are small (2-3 mm long) and do not fly
Spread in infested grain
Larvae are hairy and can survive for over a year without food
