The tiny beetle is smaller than the “shot holes” it bores into living trees. Photos: DPIRD.
Travellers to Perth are reminded to take care not to spread the exotic shot hole borer beetle which Weekender has mentioned several times this year.
According to DPIRD, polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB, Euwallacea fornicatus) is a small beetle native to Southeast Asia that tunnels into the trunks, stems and branches of trees and plants.
This highly invasive beetle is about the size of a sesame seed, and attacks a wide range of plant species.
It also has the ability to cultivate a Fusarium fungus inside the trees as a food source.
The fungus slowly kills susceptible trees by restricting or preventing the movement of water and nutrients.
A DPIRD spokesperson said the quarantine area had been extended now to cover the whole Perth Metropolitan area.
“Part of the current quarantine restrictions includes not moving untreated or unseasoned wood outside the Quarantine Area, unless chipped to pieces that are 2.5 cm or less in diameter,” she said.
“DPIRD reminds people who purchase firewood to ‘buy it where you burn it’ – so if you’re going camping purchase wood locally.”
The same applied to people who might casually put a piece of firewood in the car boot and inadvertently bring the destructive beetles back to Esperance.
