The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has confirmed the detection of the Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB) in a backyard maple tree in East Fremantle.
In an effort to determine how far the pest may have spread, the Department is implementing a surveillance program in the Mid West, Wheatbelt, South West and Great Southern.
Chief Plant Biosecurity Officer at the DPIRD, Sonya Broughton said communities from Geraldton to Esperance should check their trees and shrubs for any signs of an exotic beetle to make sure it had not made its way into the regions.
Dr Broughton said although the borer and its larvae would be hard to spot, as it spent most of its life inside a tree, there were a number of symptoms to look out for.
“These include multiple entrance holes on the trunk or branches that are about the size of a ballpoint pen tip, crystalline foam (sugar volcanoes) exuding from the entry holes and tree wilting or dieback,” she said.
“The top five trees to check are maple, willow, plane, coral tree and avocado as these are considered reproductive hosts in which both the beetle and the fungus establish and reproduce.”
Dr Broughton said if established, the exotic borer would have a significant impact on amenity trees and the fruit, nut, nursery and garden industries.
“The borer can spread by flying up to 400 metres to neighbouring trees or by the movement of infested firewood, plants and green waste material, which is why we are expanding our surveillance program to regional communities,” she said.
“If residents do find something usual, we ask them not to remove it from their properties and instead take photos and report to the DPIRD,” Dr Broughton said.
