Polyphagous shot-hole borer

The City of Vincent is working with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) to help stop the spread of the invasive pest Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB).

What is a PSHB?

Polyphagous shot-hole borer or PSHB (Euwallacea fornicatus) is a beetle native to Southeast Asia. About the size of a sesame seed, PSHB excavates tunnels in trees where they cultivate fungus as a food source.

This fungus spreads in the tunnels of trees disrupting the flow of water and nutrients.

Trees damaged by PSHB can become a constant source of beetles that can disperse and impact neighbouring trees.

Quarantine Area

Vincent is included in DPIRD’s Quarantine Area.

It is important that people living or working within the Quarantine Area are aware of the restrictions on the movement of wood and plant material from their properties as they could act as hosts and potentially spread the borer.

PSHB does not affect grass so lawn clippings can be disposed of as normal.

Vincent is working with DPIRD to stop the spread of PSHB.

Quarantine area sheet

List of reserves identified by DPIRD for ongoing treatment within the City of Vincent:

  • Hyde Park
  • Banks Reserve
  • Forrest Park
  • Robertson Park
  • Mick Michael Park
  • Beatty Park
  • Loton Park/HBF Park
  • Stuart Street Reserve

How to spot infected trees?

  • Beetle entry hole: – the entrance holes of PSHB are approximately the size of a ballpoint pen tip.
  • Discoloration/staining of wood: the fungus cultivated by the beetle can cause dark discolouration on a tree.
  • Gumming: thick sap sometimes pushes the beetle out of the gallery.
  • Sugar volcanoes: crystalline foam may be exuded from entry/exit holes.
  • Frass: produced by the beetle’s tunnelling, frass may present extruding from trees.
  • Dieback: in susceptible trees, the fungus kills tree vascular tissue causing branch dieback and tree death.
  • Top hosts of PSHB include Maple (Acer), Plane (Platanus), Robinia (Robinia), Poplars (Populus), Oak (Quercus), Avocado (Persea), Fig (Ficus) and Coral Tree (Erythrina).

More information

Find out more about PSHB on:

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Contact

If you see borer damage (or unusual pests), report it to via the MyPestGuide® Reporter app or the Pest and Disease Information Service on 9368 3080 or email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au.

You can also contact Vincent’s Parks team on 9273 6000.

News items

Polyphagous shot-hole borer

PSHB Treatment at Hyde Park
Posted 19 April 2023 PSHB Treatment at Hyde Park

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will be undertaking works in Hyde Park from late May to stop the spread of the invasive pest Polyphagous shot-hole borer.

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PSHB Tree Management at Hyde Park
Posted 24 January 2023 PSHB Tree Management at Hyde Park

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will be treating trees infected by the Polyphagous shot-hole borer at Hyde Park in Feburary.

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