Our National Priority Plant Pests (NPPP) list highlights the threats Australia faces from plant pests and diseases.
The NPPP guides national action and investment of public funds to address these threats. This effort often has broader benefits to the system than just in preparedness for the specific pest or disease. The National Priority Plant Pest is not the list that sets Australia quarantine restrictions and determines risk.
The NPPP list includes 119 pests and diseases in 37 groups. Pests and diseases are grouped together if:
- they share similar biology or potential pathways to Australia
- they share methods of surveillance and response
- their effect depends on a relationship between two pests.
Plant Health Committee endorsed the NPPP on 2 December 2024.
Top 3 pests
The top 3 National Priority Plant Pests are:
- the Xylella genus of bacteria and the vectors (insects) that carry it
- Khapra beetle
- spotted wing drosophila.
List of all NPPPs
The table below includes:
- all 37 groups of National Priority Plant Pests
- scientific names of each species
- relevant national action plan for each group.
Actions to improve the way we prepare, respond to and detect each of these pests are covered under national action plans
National Priority Plant Pests and action plans
The NPPP posing the greatest threat are numbered from 1 (most significant) to 10. All other pests on the list are nationally significant and are listed in alphabetical order.
A list with scientific and common names for all NPPP is available in our downloadable list. Use the links in the table below to go to the pest or pest group factsheet or national action plan.
| Ranking | Pest/pest group | Scientific name | National action plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Xylella and exotic vectors | Bacterial pathogens of the Xylella genus Acrogonia citrina (vector) Acrogonia terminalis (vector) Cicadella viridis (vector) Dilobopterus costalimai (vector) Draeculacephala minerva (vector) Graphocephala atropunctata (vector) Homalodisca vitripennis (vector) Oncometopia fascialis (vector) Philaenus spumarius (vector) Xyphon fulgidum (vector) | Xylella |
| 2. | Khapra beetle | Trogoderma granarium | Khapra beetle |
| 3. | Spotted wing drosophila | Drosophila suzukii | Spotted wing drosophila |
| 4. | Fruit flies (exotic) | High priority Anastrepha ludens Bactrocera carambolae Bactrocera dorsalis Bactrocera trivialis Ceratitis capitata* Zeugodacus cucurbitae Medium priority Bactrocera frauenfeldi* Bactrocera correcta Bactrocera kirki Bactrocera latifrons Bactrocera tsuneonis Bactrocera zonata Zeugodacus tau | Exotic fruit flies |
| 5. | Karnal bunt | Tilletia indica | Broadacre crops |
| 6. | Huanglongbing and vectors | 'Candidatus Liberibacter africanus' 'Candidatus Liberibacter americanus' 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' # Diaphorina citri (vector) Trioza erytreae (vector) | Horticultural crops |
| 7. | Spongy moth | Lymantria dispar and sub-species Lymantria dispar asiatica Lymantria dispar dispar Lymantria dispar japonica Lymantria monachal | Hitchhiker pests |
| 8. | Stink bugs | Halyomorpha halys Erthesina fullo | Hitchhiker pests |
| 9. | Mites of bees (Apis spp.) | Acarapis woodi Tropilaelaps clareae Tropilaelaps mercedesae Varroa jacobsoni Varroa destructor (including exotic haplotype)* | Hitchhiker pests |
| 10. | Myrtle (eucalyptus) rust (exotic strains) | Austropuccinia psidii (exotic strains)# | Trees and timber |
| Banana phytoplasma diseases& | ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma novoguineense’ | Horticultural crops |
| Barley stripe rust (exotic strains) | Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei (exotic strains) | Broadacre crops |
| Bees (Apis spp.) (exotic species) | Apis cerana (exotic)* Apis dorsata Apis florea Apis mellifera capensis Apis mellifera scutellata Apis mellifera scutellata (hybrid) | Hitchhiker pests | |
| Blood disease and Moko disease of bananas | Ralstonia syzygii subsp. celebesensis Ralstonia solanacearum (Moko strains) | Horticultural crops | |
| Begomovirus and vectors (exotic strains and species) | Begomovirus (exotic)# Bemisia tabaci (exotic, vector) | Horticultural crops | |
| Bursaphelenchus spp. and exotic sawyer beetle vectors | Bursaphelenchus cocophilus Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Monochamus spp. (vector) | Trees and timber | |
| ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ complex | ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (and other strains) complex# Bactericera cockerelli (vector of Haplotype A and B), (exotic)* Bactericera trigonica (vector of Haplotype D and E) Trioza apicalis (vector of Haplotype C) | Horticultural crops | |
| Citrus canker | Xanthomonas citri subsp. Citri | Horticultural crops | |
| Dutch elm disease | Ophiostoma novo-ulmi | Trees and timber | |
| Fire blight | Erwinia amylovora | Horticultural crops | |
| Grape phylloxera | Daktulosphaira vitifoliae* | Horticultural crops | |
| Grapevine leaf rust | Phakopsora euvitis | Horticultural crops | |
| Invasive snails (exotic species) | Lissachatina fulica Monacha spp. Massylaea spp. Pomacea canaliculata Caracollina spp. | Hitchhiker pests | |
| Longhorn beetles (Anoplophora spp.) (exotic species). | Anoplophora chinensis Anoplophora glabripennis Anoplophora malasiaca | Trees and timber | |
| Panama disease | Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4* | Horticultural crops | |
| Phytoplasmas 16Srl group | Phytoplasmas 16Srl group | Horticultural crops | |
| Pine pitch canker | Fusarium circinatum | Trees and timber | |
| Plum pox virus | Plum pox virus | Horticultural crops | |
| Potato cyst nematode (exotic strains) | Globodera spp. (exotic strains) Globodera pallida Globodera rostochiensis (exotic strains) # | Horticultural crops | |
| Potato late blight (exotic strains) | Phytophthora infestans (exotic strains) # | Horticultural crops | |
| Southern armyworm | Spodoptera eridania | Broadacre crops | |
| Spotted lanternfly | Lycorma delicatula | Hitchhiker pests | |
| Stem borers of sugarcane and cereals (Chilo spp.) (exotic species) | Chilo auricilius Chilo infuscatellus Chilo orichalcociliella Chilo partellus Chilo polychrysus Chilo sacchariphagus Chilo terrenellus Chilo tumidicostalis Eldana saccharina Sesamia grisescens Scirpophaga excerptalis | Broadacre crops | |
| Sudden oak death (airborne Phytophthora spp.) | Phytophthora kernoviae Phytophthora ramorum | Trees and timber | |
| Texas root rot | Phymatotrichopsis omnivore | Broadacre crops | |
| Tobamoviruses (exotic strains) | Cucumber fruit mottle mosaic virus Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus* Cucumber mottle virus Kyuri green mottle mosaic virus Potato 14R virus Ribgrass mosaic virus Tobacco mosaic virus – potato strain Tomato brown rugose fruit virus Tomato mottle mosaic virus Turnip-vein clearing virus Wasabi mottle virus Youcai mosaic virus Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus | Horticultural crops | |
| Ug99 wheat stem rust | Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (exotic strains) | Broadacre crops |
Legend:
* Present in Australia (including external territories)
# Strains and biotypes present in Australia
& Species within the genus present in Australia
National Priority Plant Pests
See the full list including scientific and common names
Criteria
A pest or disease must meet 5 criteria to be a National Priority Plant Pest.
Pest definition
It must harm plants, plant products (such as seeds, flowers, fruit, nuts or grains) or bees.
Or it affects a public amenity such as parks, playgrounds, street trees or sporting grounds.
Pest status
It must not be in Australia yet, or it might have entered Australia, but be limited to a certain area and be under official control.
Under official control means that state and territory governments have measures in place to stop or slow its spread.
Pest impact
It could be hazardous to Australian economies, the environment or community. For example, if it:
- ruins food crops
- competes with native plants
- leads to travel restrictions or restrictions on transporting fruits and vegetables.
Pest entry
It could enter Australia through travelling with passengers, cargo or trade. Or it could enter naturally via plants, water or wind.
Pest establishment and spread
It could establish itself in a particular area and then spread. This can happen if its lifecycle is suited to the climate. Or suitable host insects or other creatures can carry the pest further.
Nationally coordinated action can prevent entry and spread of the pest. This action must benefit the economy, environment or community. Or it must be essential to keep Australia safe.
Pest definition
A pest is any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent (except human, weeds and parasitic plants) injurious to plants, plant products, bees or impacting social amenities.
Pest status
The pest is not currently recorded in Australia, or is present but subject to official control, either containment or eradication.
Pest impact
The pest has potential to cause significant negative impact on national economies, the environment and/or community.
Pest entry
The pest has potential pathways to reach Australian borders based on its global distribution, passenger and cargo movements, trade links with Australia, or potential for introduction through natural means.
Pest establishment and spread
The pest has the potential to establish and spread in Australia because of its biology, availability of suitable hosts, appropriate climatic conditions and internal pathways (including biological vectors).
In addition, there must be clear benefit from, or requirement for nationally coordinated action or approach.
Research highlight
AI for brown marmorated stink bug
The brown marmorated stink bug is number 9 on the list of National Priority Plant Pests.
Identifying the stink bug at Australia’s borders is time consuming. It can delay the release of cargo and increase the risk of the pest entering the country.
To reduce these risks, we have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) app to identify stink bugs, including the brown marmorated stink bug, in real time.
Governance
The National Priority Plant Pests are endorsed by Plant Health Committee (PHC). PHC is a government forum. It makes decisions about plant biosecurity policy to maintain or improve plant health in Australia.
PHC is the custodian of the National Priority Plant Pests and manages its reviews.
PHC endorsed the list of National Priority Plant Pests in 2016. They consulted with experts from the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, CSIRO and Plant Health Australia
The NPPP was reviewed in 2019 and 2024. It is reviewed every 5 years.
Other priority lists
National Priority Plant Pests are highly significant. They are often found on other priority lists. Examples include:
- The National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests, Weeds and Diseases
- High Priority Pests
- Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy
- Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula priority pest list
- National Plant Health Surveillance Program
- State priority pest lists: Priority plant pests and diseases, and Priority hitchhiking pests.
Comparison of priority lists
The table below compares the main features of the:
- National Priority Plant Pests
- National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests, Weeds and Diseases (abbreviated to the Exotic Environmental Pest List)
- High Priority Pests.
These 3 lists set out agreed activities to address the risks to Australia from exotic plant pests. Each list differs in its focus, role and management.
Comparison of priority plant pests and disease lists
| National Priority Plant Pests | National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests, Weeds and Diseases | High Priority Pests | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Guide action, collaboration and investment of public funds to address risks from nationally significant exotic plant pests and diseases | Facilitate activities that help prevent the entry, establishment and spread of exotic pests, diseases and weeds | Inform industry of key high priority exotic pest threats and allow industry and government to better prioritise and implement preparedness activities |
| Focus | National | National | Industry |
| Scope | Plant diseases Terrestrial invertebrates (i.e. insects, nematodes and snails) | Aquatic animal diseases Freshwater invertebrates Marine pests Plant diseases Terrestrial invertebrates Vertebrates Weeds and freshwater algae Native animal diseases | Plant diseases Terrestrial invertebrates |
| Review period | Updated every 5 years | Every 5 years; species may also be added or removed on an ad hoc basis when new evidence becomes available | Major review every 5 years and minor updates annually |
| Collaborators | State and territory governments Plant Health Australia | Plant Health Committee Animal Health Committee Marine Pest Sectoral Committee Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences | Plant health and biosecurity experts, industry representatives and state and territory agriculture agencies |
| Coordinated by | Commonwealth government (Plant Health Policy Branch) | Commonwealth government (Chief Environmental Biosecurity Office) | Plant Health Australia |
| Endorsed by | Plant Health Committee | Environment and Invasives Committee | Relevant peak industry body Plant Health Committee |
| Corresponding risk mitigation document/s | National action plans and implementation schedules | Implementation plan | Biosecurity plans |
| More information | National action plans Pest factsheets | Exotic Environmental Pest List | Plant Health Australia |
Get involved
Are you a researcher, industry member or interested person? If you’d like to get involved email us at plantpestpreparedness@aff.gov.au