Latest news with #shotHoleBorer
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aussies urged to know telltale sign as 'devastating' pest threatens every state: 'Coming any day'
The Australian public will become the "most important" defence the nation has in fighting back against the spread of one of the worst-known tree killers on the planet, with thousands already forcibly cut down and calls mounting to immediately restrict domestic timber importations across the country. The shot-hole borer, a highly invasive, introduced pest, is widely considered to be one of the most destructive bugs on earth, due to its unique biology, ability to spread rapidly, and its devastating impact on both urban and natural ecosystems. In June, the federal government admitted it had lost the multimillion-dollar battle to eliminate the polyphagous shot-hole borer in Western Australia, a tiny beetle that originally stems from Southeast Asia and was detected in Australia for the first time just four years ago. So far, it's infested over 4,500 trees in Perth, including 20 historic figs that were turned to mulch. While the beetle doesn't eat the wood, it introduces a type of fungus that it feeds on. The fungus blocks the tree's vascular system, causing dieback and often death. It can destroy over 100 different types of trees — including many Australian natives and popular trees like avocados, figs and maples. Incredibly, it also does not need a mate to reproduce, the Invasive Species Council's Dr Carol Booth told Yahoo News Australia. "It can still lay eggs and then mate with one of the males that hatch out," she explained, which means one single fertilised female can start a new colony. "You just need one female in a piece of wood, and they can survive for months," Booth said. "They're very good travellers, and it's a real risk that they will spread. Most experts are warning that it's inevitable that they will eventually spread. We're saying, we need to contain them for as long as possible so that we can develop some effective control methods." So far, the shot-hole borer has only been detected in Western Australia, but South Australia, in particular, is on high alert. Authorities are currently conducting a surveillance of some 500 sites across the state, including in Adelaide's metro area, to check for infestations. SA's Department of Primary Industries has set movement controls on plant material, firewood, wood chips, and pot plants from entering from Western Australia. It's a move arborists and botanists are pushing to be implemented in the east. They say that if the infestation makes its way to other cities, the result could be catastrophic. Gardening photos highlight sign trees are riddled with invasive species Warning over common garden product as destructive threat spreads Alarm as destructive tree pest threatens to go national The Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens' Professor Brett Summerell said the matter requires urgent and swift attention. He said if the shot-hole borer arrived in the city, the impact would be "absolutely devastating". "We have a lot of heritage figs in the Botanic Gardens, Centennial Park, Hyde Park, pretty much in every major park and garden within Sydney is heavily populated with fig trees, which seem to be extremely susceptible to the beetle," Summerell told The Sydney Morning Herald. "We've been assuming it's going to be coming any day for a year or two now. We're working on the assumption that it could be tomorrow." Earlier this year, senior botanist at Curtin University, Professor Kingsley Dixon, said no plant material whatsoever from the west should be allowed into the eastern states, warning trees could be "king-hit". Booth agrees, saying the potential consequences can't be overstated. "It's the only way of stopping its spread," she said. "The beetle itself doesn't fly very far, so it will be up to people — both to spread it, if they don't abide by the rules — but also to keep an eye out. "The public is the most important part of this, because they will be responsible for detecting and reporting. So we are certainly encouraging everyone to understand the signs to look out for — that's the entry and exit holes for the beetle in the trees — really tiny holes. "People should be looking up online what they look like. And obviously, if trees or tree branches are dying, then investigate what's going on there." Booth is calling for "strong" and immediate containment measures and investment in research on potential control methods, including biological options and a clearer understanding of the environmental risks. While the shot-hole borer's impacts on urban environments and horticulture are relatively unknown, the threat to native ecosystems is still uncertain. "Australia is unique, and we've got different species from elsewhere," she said, pointing out that "the fungus that the beetle has come with is different from those known overseas". In Perth alone, just four years after the beetle was first detected, authorities have identified 15 native species that they've classified as "highly or very highly susceptible" and another 23 that are "moderately susceptible". Booth would like to see an independent, transparent inquiry into the now-abandoned eradication program, which she said was "definitely worth the attempt", and should be a learning opportunity. "We need to continuously improve our approaches towards new invasive species," she said. "And… we need to invest much more in prevention, because once something's here in Australia, it's really difficult to eradicate it." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
ABC News
01-07-2025
- ABC News
Fears for Moreton Bay Figs after shot-hole borer detected on Rottnest Island
The shot hole borer has been detected on Rottnest Island and has already destroyed several trees, raising concerns for the island's long-established Moreton Bay figs. Tourism Minister Reece Whitby confirmed the arrival of the invasive pest on the WA holiday island, off Perth, in response to a question during a budget estimates hearing in state parliament on Tuesday. The tree-killing beetle has spread across the Perth metropolitan area, and there is a nationally-funded effort to stop it breaking out into agricultural areas and other parts of the country. On Friday, the wood-boring beetle was detected in the City of Wanneroo, in Perth's north, for the first time, after previously mainly being found in the southern and central metropolitan areas. The WA government recently conceded it had lost the multi-million dollar fight to eradicate the shot-hole borer, instead shifting its focus to managing it. Most of the trees on Rottnest Island are native, which the beetle does not target. However, Mr Whitby told budget estimates less than 10 non-native, or exotic, trees had been killed or infested by shot-hole borers. There is particular concern for the island's long-established Moreton Bay fig trees. "We're very mindful of ensuring that they are protected," he said. "There's a lot of work about that given that they are not natives and I guess they are more susceptible." Moreton Bay fig trees have already been removed from Perth's Kings Park and Hyde Park as part of efforts to eradicate the borer. According to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, there have been no confirmed detections of polyphagous shot-hole borer outside of the Perth metropolitan area. But the national biosecurity strategy to deal with the pest is currently in transition from eradication to management, in recognition that it is not possible to wipe them out. It is suspected the destructive beetle came to Rottnest Island in a batch of mulch from the mainland. All mulch is now being treated before being sent across to the island. "It's being monitored very closely, and we haven't seen any further issues, " Mr Whitby said. Trees native to Rottnest Island were already being propagated in a nursery to try and re-establish the woodland that once covered much of the island. Mr Whitby said that would continue and will be part of the re-planting of trees impacted by shot-hole borers. Mr Whity said the loss of a small number of trees to the shot hole borer would highlight the importance of the program, which was aimed at increasing the tree canopy on the island.
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning invasive pest will spread across Australia after attempts to eradicate it fail
Biosecurity experts have warned a tiny beetle wreaking havoc in suburban Perth could make its away across the country and devastate Australia's east coast. The polyphagous shot-hole borer has been spreading through metropolitan Perth for the past four years with local authorities at their wit's end on how to deal with it. The invasive beetles bore tunnels through tree trunks causing a fungus to grow inside of it, which it then feeds on. The fungus needs water and nutrients to grow and it disrupts the tree's circulatory system, effectively cutting off its access to water and nutrients, causing it to die. Local authorities have chopped down infected plants and hundreds of trees in an attempt to stop the spread - however the efforts have been futile. The invasive wood boring beetle, about the size of a sesame seed, was first detected in August 2021 in the port city of Fremantle, 20km south of the Perth CBD. Western Australian Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis revealed last week the state had given up the fight to eradicate the pest. The state government has decided to focus on trying to slow the spread after a National Management Group meeting last Wednesday determined it was no longer feasible to eradicate shot-hole borer from WA. The decision came after considering the latest scientific data and advice from the country's chief plant health managers and leading plant biosecurity experts. A new national management plan would now be finalised. Since the destructive pest was detected it has infested thousands of trees, many in iconic Perth parks including Kings Park. Ms Jarvis said protecting Perth's tree canopy and the valuable horticulture sector remained front and centre for WA as the national biosecurity response moved into a management phase. 'We will continue to look for alternative solutions by supporting local scientists to undertake more research under WA conditions,' she said. Exactly how the beetle arrived from its native South East Asia remained a mystery, but it has already established infestations in California, Florida, Texas, South Africa, Israel, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, Mexico and Thailand. Despite its global devastation and significant widespread scientific research a cure remained elusive. Part of the problem is the beetles are tiny (2–4mm) and their hidden, tunnel-based life makes them hard to treat chemically. And the fact it attacks nearly 700 known tree species including avocadoes, maples, willows, native gum trees and oaks, further complicated tracking and containment. Trials of plastic wraps had largely failed with the only current intervention to cut down and chip infected trees. The Invasive Species Council has warned the decision to end efforts to eradicate the polyphagous shot-hole borer in WA could put the rest of the country at risk. Council policy director Carol Booth said if the beetle made it east, Sydney's lush urban canopy, already under pressure from development, could face mass dieback, hotter streets and the loss of habitat for fauna. 'This is tragic news not just for Western Australia, but potentially for native trees, towns and cities, and the horticultural industry across the entire country,' she said. 'Fifteen native tree species in WA have already been identified as highly or very highly susceptible to the polyphagous shot-hole borer including iconic species like figs, paperbarks, banksias and eucalypts. 'Another 23 species are moderately susceptible, and that's just in the Perth region. It implies hundreds of native species across the country could be at risk if the borer spreads.' Ms Booth said there was grave concerns about the loss of urban trees, which provided vital habitat, shade, beauty and health benefits in cities and towns. 'The environmental and social toll could be immense,' she said. 'We need to learn from this failure. An independent, transparent review is needed to assess whether more could have been done sooner, whether there were delays, missed early detection opportunities, or gaps in public support. 'This beetle was one of Australia's top biosecurity prevention targets. The regular arrival of harmful new invaders shows our prevention systems are not strong enough.' Australia's forest industries are disappointed the Commonwealth and state governments have given up trying to eradicate the insidious pest. Australian Forest Products Association chief executive Diana Hallam said the likelihood it spread from metropolitan Perth to other parts of the country had increased as a consequence of the decision to move from an eradication to a management strategy. 'The risk this beetle poses to trees in forestry operations, national parks, reserves and even backyards is immense and the cost borne by our industry and other stakeholders, like local councils, to prevent its spread and manage its risk will unfortunately, likely increase,' she said. 'We know in South Africa and California, where the borer has already established itself, the losses and cost of management are in the billions of dollars across local governments, horticulture, forestry and the environment through tree deaths or increased management costs.'
