Polyphagous shot-hole borer
Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) Euwallacea fornicatus is a beetle native to Southeast Asia. The beetle attacks a wide range of plants by tunnelling into trunks, stems and branches.
Establishment of this pest in WA would have significant impact on amenity trees, native vegetation, and the fruit and nut tree industries.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is responding to the confirmed detections of an exotic beetle PSHB in the Perth metropolitan area.
PSHB causes serious damage to many types of trees, but it particularly loves to hide in the box elder maple (Acer negundo).
The City is asking residents to assist the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development who have a box elder maple on their property or street to report the location of these trees, so they can check if they are infested with PSHB.
Reproductive hosts are susceptible trees in which both the beetle and the fungus establish galleries and reproduce. The host list is extensive with over 100 reproductive hosts, and includes:
- Maple (Acer)
- Oak (Quercus)
- Plane (Platanus)
- Coral tree (Erythrina)
- Avocado (Persea)
- Willows (Salix)
- Acacia (Acacia)
- Castor oil (Ricinus).
Please report suspect PSHB infestation to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on 9368 3080 or padis@dpird.wa.gov.au
Further information can be found on the Department’s website.