Latest news with #beetle
CBC
13-07-2025
- Science
- CBC
This tree-killing beetle revealed its presence in B.C. when it flew into the wrong person
The tiny beetle could scarcely have picked a worse human to fly into. Amateur entomologist Andrew Short was sitting on a bench in downtown Vancouver in June 2023 when the unfamiliar metallic green beetle hit him and fell to the ground. He said he "needed to know what it was," so he captured it, took it home to photograph, and later handed it over to authorities — who confirmed the insect to be the first emerald ash borer collected in Canada west of Manitoba. Short's fortuitous encounter set in motion a chain reaction of research aimed at understanding and clamping down on the pest that has devastated ash forests across North America, killing millions of trees in Canada and the United States. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. So, if that's what some people consider fate, then I guess it was," he said in an interview. Short makes a hobby of searching for insects and plants, examining how they interact and photographing them. "I'm quite versed in invasive species and what they can do, but I certainly hadn't considered for a moment that I'd ever have a run-in with an emerald ash borer," he said. "It's kind of a strange feeling to realize that you've found something that's that important." Nearby park infested A study published this spring in the peer-reviewed journal BioInvasions Records describes Short's role in the beetle's discovery in Vancouver, and subsequent findings that included "heavily infested" trees in Andy Livingstone Park, about 300 metres from the site of his encounter near B.C. Place stadium. The study suggests emerald ash borers, which are native to East Asia, were likely first present in the downtown Vancouver park "no later than 2020." Lead author Chris MacQuarrie, a forest entomologist with Natural Resources Canada, said Short was "the best person" for the beetle to have run into, even if not from the beetle's perspective. "There are lots of green beetles and people think they've found it and they turn it in and we're really happy when it's not (an emerald ash borer). But this time, it was." WATCH | Montreal forest infested by emerald ash borer: Montreal forest decimated by beetles set to lose 1,000 trees 9 months ago Duration 1:59 MacQuarrie said it's "really rare" to find an adult emerald ash borer, which measures up to about 1.4 centimetres. He said the discovery in Vancouver represents a "big jump" from pre-existing infestations in Canada and the United States. MacQuarrie said Short had the "presence of mind" to capture the beetle, which he tucked into a makeshift container using material in his backpack, then took it home to photograph before enlisting the help of another hobbyist entomologist to identify it. All they could conclude, Short said, was that it "was something that shouldn't have been here." Short submitted a suspected invasive species report along with photographs of the beetle to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. He eventually met with someone from the agency and handed over the bug, which he had frozen. After the agency confirmed Short's beetle was an ash borer, MacQuarrie said he and other researchers met in Vancouver last year to investigate. They set traps and took samples from trees near the bench. While the traps did not capture any adult ash borers, branch samples yielded 19 larvae. MacQuarrie said the closest infestation in Canada is in Winnipeg, though there is another population in Oregon. Beetles fly under the radar The researchers could not determine how the beetle was introduced to Vancouver, although the pest is commonly dispersed via infested wood. An infested tree found in nearby Burnaby last year suggests the beetles in Vancouver could be an "extension" of an older infestation that went undetected, the study says. The beetles often go undetected for years in new places, with sick or dead trees usually the first sign of infestation. The findings in Vancouver suggest there may be other undetected populations in western North America, the study says. Short's discovery has given researchers the opportunity to study the beetle's behaviour in Vancouver. It grows faster in warmer conditions, and researchers "don't really know" how fast it may kill trees in Vancouver's maritime climate, MacQuarrie said. Early detection allows for mitigation measures such as insecticides, removing infected trees, diversifying the tree canopy and educating the public, he said. The Vancouver finding has sparked interest elsewhere, MacQuarrie added, with a British forestry researcher starting work with Canadian counterparts to examine how the beetle is behaving in European ash species in the city. Short said some people think his bug-catching hobby is "weird." But it's calming, he said, slowing down and focusing on what is right in front of you. "You don't have to look far to find really cool things."
CTV News
13-07-2025
- Science
- CTV News
How a tree-killing beetle chose wrong human to fly into, revealing presence in B.C.
An emerald ash borer that was found by Andrew Short in Vancouver, on June 15, 2023, is seen in a handout photo. The amateur entomologist's discovery revealed the first infestation of the beetle in British Columbia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Andrew Short (Mandatory Credit) The tiny beetle could scarcely have picked a worse human to fly into. Amateur entomologist Andrew Short was sitting on a bench in downtown Vancouver in June 2023 when the unfamiliar metallic green beetle hit him and fell to the ground. He said he 'needed to know what it was,' so he captured it, took it home to photograph, and later handed it over to authorities — who confirmed the insect to be the first emerald ash borer collected in Canada west of Manitoba. Short's fortuitous encounter set in motion a chain reaction of research aimed at understanding and clamping down on the pest that has devastated ash forests across North America, killing millions of trees in Canada and the United States. 'I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. So, if that's what some people consider fate, then I guess it was,' he said in an interview. Short makes a hobby of searching for insects and plants, examining how they interact and photographing them. 'I'm quite versed in invasive species and what they can do, but I certainly hadn't considered for a moment that I'd ever have a run-in with an emerald ash borer,' he said. 'It's kind of a strange feeling to realize that you've found something that's that important.' A study published this spring in the peer-reviewed journal BioInvasions Records describes Short's role in the beetle's discovery in Vancouver, and subsequent findings that included 'heavily infested' trees in Andy Livingstone Park, about 300 metres from the site of his encounter near BC Place stadium. The study suggests emerald ash borers, which are native to East Asia, were likely first present in the downtown Vancouver park 'no later than 2020.' Lead author Chris MacQuarrie, a forest entomologist with Natural Resources Canada, said Short was 'the best person' for the beetle to have run into — if not from the beetle's perspective. 'There are lots of green beetles and people think they've found it and they turn it in and we're really happy when it's not (an emerald ash borer). But this time, it was.' MacQuarrie said it's 'really rare' to find an adult emerald ash borer, which measures up to about 1.4 centimetres. He said the discovery in Vancouver represents a 'big jump' from pre-existing infestations in Canada and the United States. MacQuarrie said Short had the 'presence of mind' to capture the beetle, which he tucked into a makeshift container using material in his backpack, then took it home to photograph before enlisting the help of another hobbyist entomologist to identify it. All they could conclude, Short said, was that it 'was something that shouldn't have been here.' Short submitted a suspected invasive species report along with photographs of the beetle to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. He eventually met with someone from the agency and handed over the bug, which he had frozen. After the agency confirmed Short's beetle was an ash borer, MacQuarrie said he and other researchers met in Vancouver last year to investigate. They set traps and took samples from trees near the bench. While the traps did not capture any adult ash borers, branch samples yielded 19 larvae. MacQuarrie said the closest infestation in Canada is in Winnipeg, though there is another population in Oregon. The researchers could not determine how the beetle was introduced to Vancouver, although the pest is commonly dispersed via infested wood. An infested tree found in nearby Burnaby last year suggests the beetles in Vancouver could be an 'extension' of an older infestation that went undetected, the study says. The beetles often go undetected for years in new places, with sick or dead trees usually the first sign of infestation. The findings in Vancouver suggest there may be other undetected populations in western North America, the study says. Short's discovery has given researchers the opportunity to study the beetle's behaviour in Vancouver. It grows faster in warmer conditions, and researchers 'don't really know' how fast it may kill trees in Vancouver's maritime climate, MacQuarrie said. Early detection allows for mitigation measures such as insecticides, removing infected trees, diversifying the tree canopy and educating the public, he said. The Vancouver finding has sparked interest elsewhere, MacQuarrie added, with a British forestry researcher starting work with Canadian counterparts to examine how the beetle is behaving in European ash species in the city. Short said some people think his bug-catching hobby is 'weird.' But it's calming, he said, slowing down and focusing on what is right in front of you. 'You don't have to look far to find really cool things.' This report by Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press, was first published July 13, 2025.
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Invasive shot-hole borer from WA could wreak havoc on Sydney's heritage trees
The chief scientist of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney is warning of an imminent and deadly risk to the city's trees posed by an invasive beetle that has led to the removal of thousands of trees in Perth. The tiny polyphagous shot-hole borer, which is native to south-east Asia, is a 'fungus farmer' that burrows into trees and can spread a fungus that kills the host tree. The larvae of the beetle feed on the fungus, which then colonises the tree's water and nutrient conducting vessels and blocks them, causing stress and dieback that can eventually lead to the tree's death. The beetle was first detected in a tree in Perth in 2021 and a year later had spread to more than 200 locations across the West Australian capital. About 4,000 trees, including Moreton Bay and Port Jackson figs – which are not native to WA – have been cut down during attempts to eradicate the beetle. The beetle can't establish the fungus in all tree species, and it is not known how many types of trees in Australia – native and introduced – could become targets. Overseas, more than 400 host species have been recorded. The West Australian government has its own list of species found to be susceptible. The WA government announced last month that a national management group made up of state, territory and federal representatives had determined it was no longer feasible to try to eradicate the invasive pest and control strategies would shift to managing it. Brett Summerell, the chief scientist at Sydney's botanic garden, said they had been preparing for the beetle to make its way to eastern Australia, where it could have a huge impact in places such as formal gardens. 'We've been concerned for the past couple of years, but that concern is now heightened because the potential for it to be accidentally brought into the Sydney region is quite significant,' he said. Summerell said with the focus shifting from eradication to management in WA, it was 'inevitable' that the beetle would spread further in Perth, and there would be increased opportunities for it to expand – likely via the transportation of infested wood such as firewood. 'I just see the opportunities for people to pick up infested wood and travel east, even all the way to the Sydney region. That risk is going to be heightened because we're moving from eradication to management.' He said because it was not known how many tree species were susceptible, 'it's just a big experiment about to happen'. In Sydney there are large populations of known hosts such as plane and fig trees meaning there was the potential for large numbers to be severely affected, Summerell said. Shot-hole borers could impact the heritage values and appearance of popular parks and gardens – and the amenity trees provide through natural urban cooling. Carol Booth, the policy director at the Invasive Species Council, said it was critical that governments fund research to investigate more control options, including collaboration with overseas researchers. 'One of the highest priorities should be to contain it for as long as possible to give us the time to develop more effective control methods,' she said. The council wants to see more work to investigate the potential impacts of the shot-hole borer in Australia and which native species might be susceptible. 'The big unknown is what is going to be the environmental impact,' she said. 'What the impact is going to be overall in forests. It's really uncertain.' Signs of polyphagous shot-hole borer infestation included tiny entry and exit holes – about the size of the tip of a ballpoint pen – in a tree's bark and wilting and dieback of branches, often starting in the upper canopy. Summerell said monitoring for the presence of the beetle was critical, as was educating the public to identify the signs of a potential infestation, which could start in a backyard tree. 'The more sets of eyes we have looking for potential problems, the more likely we are to find it early,' he said. 'If there are little holes and dots in the trees where it's obvious a borer has been … they should report that.'
ABC News
19-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Invasive beetle puts Australian trees at risk
For the last four years, an invasive beetle has been spreading across Perth, infecting more than 4,000 trees so far. It's known as the polyphagous shot-hole borer and can kill a tree in just two years. Now there's widespread concern from environmental groups that the pest could reach other states, after authorities admitted an eradication plan has failed.
The Guardian
12-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Country diary: Little miracles at my fingertips
Fifty years ago my first countryside article was published, A Kestrel Kills in Liverpool. The little falcon, nesting on the Anglican cathedral in 1976, until recently was replaced by a peregrine. Back in the day any self-respecting wildlife writer used a heavyweight Imperial typewriter, an SLR film camera, snail mail, a landline and an extensive library of reference books. It took a week to get something filed. How times have changed. Today, with the flush of springtime attracting all manner of wee beasties, I photographed bees and beetles with my mobile phone in the Fairy Hill garden. It's been useful to track the many changes here – two years ago, I eradicated all alien species including rhododendron, leylandii and laurel. The non-natives were replaced with hornbeam, rowan and hazel, and further planting projects have paid off in spades: native pears and foxgloves, flag iris in the pond, delicate sorrel in the shade of a stone wall, and the more robust dock. So no typical borders here – and no surprise to find an iridescent green dock beetle (Gastrophysa viridula) munching into the dock. Sadly, they also enjoy sorrel, but I am hoping that they do not find the large batch of rhubarb near the compost heap – it's all a balancing act. Its taste for dock could, in fact, make this attractive beetle a widely deployed one, as dock is commonly seen as a problem, competing with other plants and causing issues if eaten by cows and horses. If experiments in Wales and Ireland are conclusive, Gastrophysa viridula could be sold to farmers as a cost-effective alternative to chemical herbicides. Meanwhile, I'm zooming in on yet more smaller beauties, many of which display the exotic and metallic colorations more usually seen in the Amazon. From a bronze shield bug that landed on my sweater looking like an extra from the Star Wars bar to a soldier beetle and the dozy cockchafer which blundered into my face at dusk. The latter was described wonderfully by my erstwhile neighbour Robert Burns in his poem The Twa Dogs, 'An' darker gloamin brought the night / The bum-clock [cockchafer] humm'd wi' lazy drone.' Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian's Country Diary, 2018-2024 is published by Guardian Faber; order at and get a 15% discount
