| Borer beetle pest sighted in Alphen, Constantia | Borer beetle pest sighted in Alphen, Constantia | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The City of Cape Town wants to inform residents that a Boxelder tree infested with the invasive Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer beetle (PSHB) has been discovered in Alphen, Constantia. This latest infestation is the first to be discovered in this area, and is of great concern. <br></p> | <span><p>The City was first notified of a possible infested tree in Alphen yesterday, 18 April 2024. </p><p>'The City immediately deployed a team of monitors from our Invasive Species Unit to assess the area and to verify the reported infestation. Unfortunately, we can confirm that the Boxelder is indeed infested with PSHB.</p><p>'At this point in time, we cannot confirm the number of infested trees in the Alphen area as surveys are underway. I am urging all private land owners in Alphen and Constantia to please inspect the trees on their properties for symptoms and to contact us immediately should any of these be visible on any trees,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.<br></p>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/PSHB1%202.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:2140px;" /> </figure></span><span><p><strong>The City also needs access to private properties to conduct a full assessment to determine the extent of the infestation in and around Alphen.</strong></p><p>'In the meantime, the City will also undertake an assessment of trees. Thus, I ask residents to please give the teams access to their properties so that we can determine the extent of the PSHB infestation. We are extremely concerned about the latest sighting and request the assistance and cooperation of residents and businesses that work with plant material,' said Alderman Andrews. </p><p><strong>How to identify City staff:</strong></p><ul><li>All staff will wear City of Cape Town branded clothing</li><li>All staff will present official staff identification cards to gain access to properties</li></ul><p><strong>Latest infestation statistics:</strong></p><ul><li>To date, 24 trees have been infested in Penhill, Eerste River, among which Boxelders, London Planes, English Oaks, Beef Wood, Weeping Willow, Cape Chestnut, Black Locust, Paperbark and Maples</li><li>To date, 309 sightings of infested trees have been recorded in Newlands, Rondebosch, Mowbray, Claremont, Kenilworth, and Observatory along the Liesbeek River</li><li>Over 4 975 infested trees have been sighted in the Helderberg Area since 2019 to date</li></ul><p><strong>What to look out for and symptoms of infested trees:</strong></p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Branch dieback – cracks on the branch; discoloured leaves; dry and leafless branches; branch break-off revealing webs of galleries filled with black fungus</li><li>Gumming – blobs of goo coming out of the bark; oozing of liquid and gum from the beetle holes</li><li>Entry and exit holes – very small holes on the bark of the tree, the size of a sesame seed (2mm); shotgun-like scars developing around the holes</li><li>Staining – brow or dark stains on the bark of the tree</li></ul><p><strong>Important: infested trees must be chipped on site and may not be removed from the property as the removal of the chipped wood will spread the pest to other areas. Do not buy and move firewood from areas where trees are infested.</strong></p><p><strong>How to report PSHB beetle sightings</strong></p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Online, at <a href="https://ddec1-0-en-ctp.trendmicro.com/wis/clicktime/v1/query?url=http://www.capetown.gov.za/InvasiveSpecies&umid=20c996d0-a6ed-41a0-acbd-c660b2fbade3&auth=2ad3eefb43d42e4af99fdc07ba99e48e7318d45f-b598db69983653b957d321e0e970ad498e945a58" target="_blank">www.capetown.gov.za/InvasiveSpecies</a></li><li>Call the City of Cape Town's Invasive Species Unit on 021 444 2357, Monday to Friday, from 07:30 to 16:00</li><li>Send an email to: <a href="mailto:invasive.species@capetown.gov.za" target="_blank">invasive.species@capetown.gov.za</a> <br></li></ul>
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<img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/PSHB22.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:1562px;" /> </figure></span><p><strong>What to do:</strong></p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Chip the tree, place the infested material in refuse bags, seal it and put these in direct sunlight for at least six weeks </li><li>Dump the chips in your compost heap as the heat build-up will kill the beetle</li><li>Burn infected wood chips at an appropriate incineration facilities</li><li>Where chipping is not possible, cut infested wood into smaller pieces that can fit into solarisation plastic bags</li><li>Tightly close and seal the bag with infested material and place it in an area with direct sunlight and leave it to solarise for at least six weeks in summer and up to six months in winter</li><li>Seek assistance from trained and equipped service providers with sound knowledge of PSHB</li><li>Do not move plant/tree material/firewood outside of areas where PSHB has been confirmed to be present to other areas</li><li>Do not transport any form of green waste in open vehicles, cover it with sail covers even if no PSHB has been identified as such green waste.</li><li>Clean tools and equipment used to trim/cut/prune plants </li></ul><p> </p><p>The City will try its best to respond within 10 working days to verify a reported sighting. However, the response time will depend on the number of sightings reported.</p><p> </p><p>The PSHB poses a serious threat to Cape Town's urban forest as infested trees have to be chipped. </p><p> </p><p>Importantly, the use of pesticides and fungicides have not proven effective at eradicating PSHB from infected trees. The PSHB beetle can easily spread across suburbs if extra precaution is not taken. Apart from infected wood, the beetle can also spread through clothing, vehicle crevices, or unclean horticultural equipment.</p><p> </p><p>'We are also encouraging residents to attend any of the free training sessions offered by the City of Cape Town, especially if you have trees on your private property. The knowledge is useful and will empower property owners to take care of their gardens in a safe and responsible manner,' said Alderman Andrews.</p><p> </p><p><strong>End</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><br></p> | 2024-04-18T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#bd5841d6-02a3-433d-ac6e-e80a4f2f7ee3;L0|#0bd5841d6-02a3-433d-ac6e-e80a4f2f7ee3|Tree maintenance procedures;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#5ddbe605-1355-4391-9598-bd9534f9f179;L0|#05ddbe605-1355-4391-9598-bd9534f9f179|Invasive Alien Species;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
