Identify that pest for free

PestFacts SA offers free identification of broadacre invertebrate pests to all subscribers. Have a pest identified by either:

• sending in specimens
• sending in photos.

Sending specimens

Sending live specimens for identification is the most reliable way to get a correct identification, however what happens between sending and receiving the parcel can be unpredictable. From long times in the postal system to insects eating one another, things can go wrong, but there are a few ways you can make sure the insects arrive in the best possible condition.

• Send as many individuals as you can
  • The more insects you send, the more likely we will receive them in a useful state. For some species it is necessary to check multiple individuals to confirm, and in some cases, there might be many species causing damage at the same time. We recommend at least 20 individuals, but if you only have a few, it’s still worth sending them in.
• Use a sturdy, non-crushable container
  • Takeaway plastic containers in post bags are often crushed in transit, ruining the specimens. Use a sturdier plastic, such as specimen vials or hard plastic containers, or send in a post box with padding.
  • Contact Rebecca Hamdorf at rebecca.hamdorf@sa.gov.au to get a pack of specimen vials sent to you.
• Provide a food source
  • Some insects will cannibalise each other if no other food is available. Provide some of the host plant to keep insects fed. To stop plants from going mouldy, include some tissue or paper towel in the bottom.
• Don’t punch air holes in the container
  • Air holes are not necessary and provide a spot for insects to escape.
• Provide details
  • The more detail about the specimens, the better. Always provide us with an indication of locality and host plant (if not otherwise obvious from the food source) and your information so we can get back to you.
• Send by express post on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday
  • To ensure the parcel isn’t delayed any longer than necessary, always send at the start of the week. Express post is preferred, to ensure it will arrive as soon as possible.

Send your specimens to:

PestFacts SA – Rebecca Hamdorf
Room E115b, Waite Main Building
Waite Road
Urrbrae SA 5064

Taking photographs

Sending photos for identification is much faster than sending in specimens, but often makes species harder to identify due to the difficult nature of photographing insects. They are small, often very mobile and the photos can end up blurry or don’t show all the identifying features. However, there are several tips and tricks that can yield better results.

• Smartphone photos
  • Usually, we receive photos taken on smartphones. These can be OK as long as you are able to focus at short distances. Photos taken too close often end up blurry. Since most smartphones have a high resolution, it is better to not try and move too close, because zooming in on a sharp image afterwards works better. Also, a photo taken from a bit further away will show more of the environment.
• Use an attachable macro phone lens
  • There are a wide range of attachable lenses available for smartphones, and they are an easy way to take macro photos of insects and mites with your phone.
  • In previous seasons, we have been able to distinguish between redlegged earth mites and blue oat mites from a phone photo alone thanks to the GoMicro clip on phone lens.
• Provide details
  • In a photo, it is always good to have some indication of scale. Get your lucky coin, pen, or pocket- knife out – anything that can give us some idea about the actual size of the insect.
  • Always provide us with an indication of locality and host plant. For pest species this always allows us to narrow down the options quickly.
• Take photos of different angles
  • Important identifying features can be anywhere on the insect, so by taking photos of different parts you ensure you get as many identifying features as possible. Plus, if any photos are blurry, you’ve still got plenty that can be used for identification.

You can send us your insect photos for identification by:

• tagging or messaging our Twitter account @PestFactsSARDI
• contacting Rebecca Hamdorf – phone 0429 547 413 or email rebecca.hamdorf@sa.gov.au
• contacting Maarten Van Helden – email maarten.vanhelden@sa.gov.au.