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🇦🇺 Australia /Environment & Climate

Tree-killing beetle remains a major threat as bird flu dominates attention

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Ongoing story
  • The polyphagous shot-hole borer remains active in Western Australia after eradication efforts failed and authorities shifted to long-term management.
  • Farmers and researchers warn that the beetle threatens avocado production, particularly in the state’s south-west, where a large share of Australia’s crop is grown.
  • Biosecurity officials and Murdoch University researchers are studying ways to detect, trap and kill the pest.

The tiny beetle that once commanded attention across Perth has not gone away. The polyphagous shot-hole borer, measuring only 1 to 2 millimetres, is still moving through trees while public attention has shifted to the H5N1 bird flu outbreak.

The pest forced authorities to establish a metropolitan quarantine zone after distressed trees in Kings Park and Hyde Park were cut down to stop its spread. When eradication failed, the response moved to a long-term management plan. The beetles burrow into trees and build galleries where they grow fungi, eventually causing devastating damage.

It's a real threat and it's a real concern to farmers

· Brad RodgersThe Manjimup avocado grower and Western Australia director of Avocados Australia described the pest’s risk to farmers.

The threat now reaches Western Australia’s south-west, a major avocado-producing region. The beetle was first detected in December at an avocado orchard in Carabooda, in Perth’s northern suburbs. Avocado trees are particularly vulnerable because of their softer wood, and outbreaks in other countries have devastated crops.

It's very critical for our livelihood and for us to grow the fruit that Australians and West Australians love. We would like to contain it if we can.

· Brad RodgersRodgers explained why controlling the beetle matters to avocado growers.

More than 51,000 of the 131,000 tonnes of avocados produced in Australia last financial year came from the south-west of Western Australia, according to Avocados Australia. Manjimup grower and Avocados Australia WA director Brad Rodgers said farmers had not yet seen signs of the beetle in the region, but described it as “a real threat and a real concern to farmers.”

Farmers are checking their crops regularly, with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development providing advice on pruning and pest management. The department is also working with Murdoch University on research involving Australia’s only laboratory colony. Researcher Wei Xu is studying what attracts and repels the borer, with the aim of developing field traps to monitor, detect and kill it.

They build the gallery so they can grow fungi. There are some insects inside

· Wei XuThe researcher explained the structures shot-hole borers create inside trees.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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