• Home
  • About Us
  • Our Story
  • Products
    • Permacure CCA
    • Permacure ACQ
    • Permabore Boron
    • Waterguard Wax
    • Close
  • Services
  • Digital Solutions
    • Digital Tools
    • Close
  • Contact Us
  • search icon
    • Close
  • Dolphin Bay white icon
  • GET IN TOUCH
  • CUSTOMER APPLICATION FORM
Menu
  • dolphin bay icon
  • CCA treated timber iconPermacure CCA
  • acq preservativesPermacure ACQ
  • Dolphin Bay ServicesServices
  • Dolphin Bay NewsNews
  • Dolphin Bay NewsNewsletters
  • pressMedia
  • OurBlogOur Blog
  • Dolphin Bay logo
Jun 12
shot hole borer

EYES PEELED FOR THE SHOT HOLE BORER

  • June 12, 2019

Scientists and foresters are keeping their eyes peeled for evidence of the destructive polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) in plantations.

The beetle has been spotted on one eucalyptus tree in Sandton and a few roadside wattles in the Southern Cape, but on no other forestry species in South Africa.

“There is certainly concern about its effect on plantations, although there is no evidence of the impact yet,” said Professor Wilhelm de Beer of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria. “We need to carefully monitor the situation and are working with the forestry industry, which is continuously monitoring its plantations.

“Our biggest concern is the indigenous forests. We are seeing the borer in more and more indigenous species.”

 

To scientists’ great concern, it has moved from some cities into many species of indigenous tree in nearby forests.

 

The borer is from South-East Asia and has no natural predators in South Africa. It is known to have migrated only to South Africa, Israel and California, where it was found in a few pine trees and caused a native willow species to be entirely removed from a river valley.

In South Africa it is having a devastating impact on tree species including the oak, plane and box elder in Johannesburg, Durban, Bloemfontein, Pietermaritzburg, Knysna and George. To scientists’ great concern, it has moved from some of these cities into many species of indigenous tree in nearby forests.

The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme, a co-operative research project between the University of Pretoria and private forestry companies, focuses on all pest and pathogen problems facing forestry plantations. The programme has grown to become internationally recognised as the strongest in the world in dealing with such challenges. Researchers from the programme continuously monitor forestry trees and are incorporating surveillance for the shot hole borer into their work.

A network of 18 academics from eight universities, called the PSHB Research Network, is investigating the beetle’s impact on avocado, macadamia and pecan nut trees, some other fruit crops, natural forests, urban forests and plantations.

 

Treatment of affected trees is extremely challenging.

 

The shot hole borer tries to make its home in many trees species but leaves most of them untouched. It is generally indiscriminate, as it does not eat timber but feeds on a fungus that it introduces into its host tree. It is the fungus, which grows in tunnels made by the borer, that kills the tree.

Affected trees develop wilted brown leaves on infested branches. The most obvious sign of an infestation is branches with brown stains around each hole where the borer has penetrated the tree.

Treatment of affected trees is extremely challenging. The entire tree must be removed and carefully disposed of, as the beetles can emerge and fly away to infest other trees.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is in the process of declaring the beetle an invasive pest, which will allow emergency registration of chemical treatments.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Dolphin Bay Brief
Dolphin Bay Brief
Dolphin Bay is a chemical company specialising in the manufacture of wood preservatives. We are a major market player within the African continent, where our products and services are supplied to reputable companies supplying treated timber to the agricultural, building, electrical and communications industries.
Dolphin Bay Brief
Latest posts by Dolphin Bay Brief (see all)
  • NRCS’ INACTION SPURS ON DANGEROUS CRIMINALS - June 1, 2022
  • CLIENT AGRO-SERVE LAUNCHES OUR NEW DIY TIMBER TREATMENT - June 1, 2022
  • HOW TO BRACE FOR A WORLD RECESSION - June 1, 2022

Comments are closed.

Welcome to Dolphin Bay Brief which delivers the latest news and insights about our sector, related industries and the broader economy in which we operate.

IN OTHER DOLPHIN BAY NEWS

  • “EXTRAORDINARY” MEDIA OVERSIGHT DAMPENS PUBLIC MORALE
    “EXTRAORDINARY” MEDIA OVERSIGHT DAMPENS PUBLIC MORALE
  • HOW TO ACHEIVE OPTIMAL RETENTION
    HOW TO ACHEIVE OPTIMAL RETENTION
  • THE ‘HUGE VALUE-ADD’ OF OPERATOR TRAINING
    THE ‘HUGE VALUE-ADD’ OF OPERATOR TRAINING
  • THROUGH THE EYES OF A POLE
    THROUGH THE EYES OF A POLE
  • AGORA A ‘HIVE OF ACTIVITY’ AFTER AGREEMENT WITH DOLPHIN BAY
    AGORA A ‘HIVE OF ACTIVITY’ AFTER AGREEMENT WITH DOLPHIN BAY
  • DOLPHIN BAY HELPS TO REVISE TANZANIAN NATIONAL STANDARDS
    DOLPHIN BAY HELPS TO REVISE TANZANIAN NATIONAL STANDARDS
  • AVOIDING THE LOCKDOWN SUPPLY HOLD-UPS
    AVOIDING THE LOCKDOWN SUPPLY HOLD-UPS
  • BUSINESS BOUNCE BACK
    BUSINESS BOUNCE BACK
  • A YEAR OF EXTREME STRESS, GREAT REWARDS
    A YEAR OF EXTREME STRESS, GREAT REWARDS
  • FINDING THE TREASURE – WHAT WE LEARNT IN 2020
    FINDING THE TREASURE – WHAT WE LEARNT IN 2020

FILTER BY NEWS CATEGORY

  • Our Company
  • Our Customers
  • Our Industry
  • Our Society

Dolphin Bay icon

Dolphin Bay is committed to serving our industry, in order to ensure the growth of your business and ours. We are industry experts, constantly monitoring national and international markets for new trends and developments.

SIGN UP

CONTACT INFO

Voorbaai Crescent, Bayview Industria, Mossel Bay Phone: +27 (0) 44 6951575 E-Mail: info@dolphinbay.co.za Web: www.dolphinbay.co.za

Download a copy of Dolphin Bay’s PAIA Manual

Download Now

Terms and conditions of sale

Download Now

Copyright © Dolphin Bay | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy