Pests in Brisbane Gardens
Subtropical Brisbane gardens are lush and productive, and support pests that can move from the garden into the house.
Updated 20 September 2026
Garden features and pests
- Mulch and leaf litter: Australian cockroaches and ants.
- Fruit trees, palms and compost: rats.
- Pots, saucers and bromeliads holding water: mosquitoes.
- Sheds and stored items: redbacks.
- Lawns: lawn armyworm in late summer and autumn, and curl grubs feeding on roots. Patches that brown and spread quickly are worth checking. See why your lawn is dying in patches.
Garden habits that help
- Keep mulch away from walls.
- Harvest and clean up fruit.
- Flush bromeliads and tip out pots weekly.
- Wear gloves in sheds and garden beds.
Related PestMan Answers
- How Do I Make My Property Less Attractive to Rats?
- What Should I Do About Redback Spiders?
- Why Do I Suddenly Have Ants?
- How Do I Reduce Mosquitoes Around My Home?
- Why Is My Lawn Dying in Patches?
- How Do I Know If I Have Armyworm?
- What Are Curl Grubs?
- Can I Move Soil, Mulch or Turf in a Fire Ant Zone?
- Why Are Birds Digging Up My Lawn?
Pest information
Cockroaches
Fast, flat-bodied insects that hide in warm, damp gaps and come out at night to feed. A few introduced species cause most household problems in Australia.
Ants
Social insects that live in colonies and follow scent trails to food and water. Most ant problems in homes are nuisance foraging trails from colonies outside the house.
Rats
Introduced rodents that live alongside people, nest in roofs, walls and gardens and gnaw through building materials and wiring. Roof rats are the most common household rat in many Australian cities.
Spiders
Eight-legged predators that feed on insects. Most household spiders are harmless and useful, but a few Australian species, such as redbacks and funnel-webs, need to be treated with care.
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Sources & further reading
- Queensland Health — mosquito-borne disease and environmental health — Queensland Health
- Queensland Museum — insects, spiders and animals of Queensland — Queensland Museum
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