Contact us
Phone: (08) 9368 3080
Email: padis@dpird.wa.gov.au
Office hours
Our service is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. Closed on public holidays.
Our services
We facilitate the detection of animal and plant pests, weeds and plant diseases that impact, or have the potential to negatively impact, Western Australia's agriculture and food industries. Calls made in WA to the National Exotic Plant Pest (EPP) Hotline 1800 084 881 are answered by our service. We provide the following services for customers in Western Australia:
- frontline contact for unfamiliar pests, weeds and diseases
- frontline contact for plant biosecurity emergency response
- weed identification (if relevant to agriculture or quarantine)
- insect identification
- animal pest identification
- disease identification (if relevant to agriculture or quarantine)
- control advice for pests, weeds and diseases of agricultural concern.
Please note:
Services for commercial operators in relation to disease identification and diagnosis, cannot be handled by our service. Please contact our diagnostic laboratory service DDLS for their full list of services and costs. If the seed, plant, disease (plant or animal) is suspected of being a new threat to agricultural industries, fees will be waived.
How to submit a specimen or request an identification
If you discover something unfamilar please contact our service.
Specimens can be submitted in person or posted to our South Perth Office. Please refer to our webpage on Sending specimens for identification, call us or email our service for guidance.
Our department has also developed a number of apps which can be used to report the presence of unfamiliar pests and diseases. Click on the links below to download an app, or to make an online report:
- MyPestGuide app - Allows you to identify pests and report your observations.
- PestFacts WA Reporter app - Report observations of pests and diseases in your paddocks to the Western Australian PestFacts newsletter editor.
Alternatively, photos of pests, weeds and plant diseases can be sent via email to padis@dpird.wa.gov.au
Location/postal address
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Pest and Disease Information Service (PaDIS)
3 Baron-Hay Court
South Perth WA 6151
If visiting us, please ask to speak to someone from our service at front reception.
Common service requests
Service request | ? | This will happen…. |
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Suspected European wasps, exotic/introduced bees including bumble bees and Asian honey bees | PaDIS will take the report and follow up investigation as appropriate. | |
Bee and wasp - hands on control | Contact licensed pest controller – see Yellow Pages or internet resources. The Western Australian Apiarists Society website – under Swarm Collectors. | |
Portuguese millipede and white cedar moth (and caterpillar) control |
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Cane toads information, identification or control | Contact the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Cane toad Hotline 1800 449 453, canetoads@dpaw.wa.gov.au, or dpaw.wa.gov.au/canetoads | |
Frog identification | PaDIS will assist where there’s a quarantine or biosecurity concern. Alternate contacts:
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Unfamiliar pests (including insects) and plant diseases. | PaDIS will take the report and follow up investigation as appropriate. | |
Common pests and disease control, including call out services | Refer to internet or book resources. Contact licensed pest controller (see Yellow Pages, community newspapers, internet searches etc). | |
Fox and rabbit control |
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Agricultural weeds and their control |
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Weed control services and control advice for lawn weeds | Contact nursery or garden centre. Gardening services and land management services can be hired for active control. | |
Unfamiliar and agricultural weeds. | PaDIS will take the report and follow up investigation as appropriate. | |
Identification of ornamental and native plants | Contact:
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Gardening advice including: Pruning, re-potting, plant selection, Lawn or turf maintenance or problem identification | Contact:
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Large number of chickens dying with signs of influenza | Phone the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline 1800 675 888, or PaDIS will put you in contact with our Livestock Biosecurity team or animal pathologist.
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Cats, dogs, chickens or other domestic pets – advice on pests affecting animal health, stray or aggressive animals, lost pets | Contact:
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Neighbourhood disputes – tree control, boundary issues, pets, poisoning of plants/trees/animals. | Contact:
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Pigeon control |
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Native animals: Ravens (crows), cockatoos, snakes, kangaroos, magpies etc. | View information on the WA Department of Parks and Wildlife website or phone 9219 9000. | |
Mosquito problems and mosquito-borne diseases | Contact: Local government’s health officer in the first instance. Information is also available on the WA Department of Health website. | |
Human pests or parasites | Contact: Local GP (general practitioner) or medical centre. | |
Plants poisonous to people | Contact:
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Mushroom/fungi identification, including edible species | . | Contact: Perth Urban Bushland Fungi website. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions fungus factsheets. The Australasian Mycological Society. Book resources such as: Australia's Poisonous Plants, Fungi and Cyanobacteria - A Guide to Species of Medical and Veterinary Importance. |