The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is calling on Perth residents to inspect their trees following the confirmation of a new exotic pest.
The Department said the new pest, Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB) was known to attack a wide range of trees but the top five people should check were maple, oak, plane, coral tree and avocado.
“Early detection is the key to responding to a pest incursion, and this latest detection underpins the need for early warning trapping and systems, as well as emergency preparedness and training of biosecurity response staff,” DPIRD said.
“In this latest detection, a vigilant resident reported damage to a maple tree that was later confirmed as having PSHB,” it said.
“This has enabled a rapid response to help determine where the borer may have spread.”
DPIRD said the exotic Borer hadn’t previously been detected in Australia and was considered an agricultural, environmental and social amenity pest due to the wide range of species it attacked.
Minister for Agriculture and Food, Alannah MacTiernan said the WA community had been exceptional at supporting emergency response efforts in the past.
“This time we need everyone to check their trees for signs of Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer and report anything usual to the Department,” Ms MacTiernan said.
“Each year we are seeing more animal and plant pest and diseases incursions across our State and we need to be well prepared to act quickly,” she said.
