Media release no.
The Ash whitefly, a sucking insect pest of deciduous trees, has been found in Perth for the first time. A subsequent survey has found that the Ash whiteflies are widespread on ornamental Ash trees and pomegranate bushes in the Perth metropolitan area, from Midland to Attadale and Balcatta. This species of Ash whitefly is an agricultural pest in Europe and in California, where it is a severe pest of apples and pears. Dr Hardie said the flies had probably entered WA from across the Nullarbor or New Zealand on board travellers, vehicles or shipping containers. In WA it is likely we will have the same experience as in South Australia, where numbers initially explode on favoured hosts, like Ash trees, but will gradually diminish as native biological control agents exert an effect.