The annual Biosecurity Blitz begins tomorrow, October 16, 2025, inviting the community to report unusual pests and diseases found in paddocks, waterways, and backyards. This initiative aims to safeguard Western Australia’s primary industries and the environment. This year marks a significant milestone, celebrating a decade since the launch of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Biosecurity Blitz and the introduction of the MyPestGuide Reporter app, a crucial tool for community-based reporting.
New Features and Citizen Science Initiative
The Biosecurity Blitz will run from October 16 to November 16, 2025, and for the first time, it includes the reporting of aquatic pests. Nichole Hammond, DPIRD Plant Biosecurity Technical Area Manager, emphasized the importance of citizen science in the state’s biosecurity efforts. “The information collected through the Biosecurity Blitz is crucial to WA’s surveillance program,” she stated. “It helps detect new pests and diseases while also proving their absence, which protects the state and supports our ability to maintain and expand market access.”
Launching on World Food Day, the event underscores the critical role of robust biosecurity systems in ensuring food security. “It is essential for WA to provide safe, quality, and nutritious food both locally and globally,” Hammond said.
Engagement and Reporting Impact
Since the inception of the Biosecurity Blitz and the suite of MyPestGuide digital tools in 2015, over 9,500 reports have been submitted by farmers, agronomists, and community members using the app. Hammond noted some intriguing findings over the past decade, including the identification of new spider species, such as the slater or woodlouse hunting spider and the native trap door spider, as well as a leaf-footed bug.
Hammond encouraged all Western Australians to participate as citizen scientists in this year’s event. “The more eyes we have out there, the better. Early detection is key to containing and eradicating unwanted pests and diseases before they can establish,” she explained. “Making a report takes just a few minutes using the MyPestGuide Reporter app, which is available for free on Google Play and the Apple App Store.”
For further details and to register for this year’s Biosecurity Blitz, visit the official Biosecurity Blitz webpage.
