Residents invited to free Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer beetle (PSHB) pest information sessions
08 October 2025
The City of Cape Town is offering free training sessions in Claremont; Pinelands; Durbanville; Kraaifontein and Somerset West about the invasive Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer beetle (PSHB) to all residents and businesses that handle trees and plant material. The intention is to educate the public on how to identify infested trees and manage and transport beetle infested biomass to prevent the spread of the pest as far as possible.
The PSHB continues to pose a serious threat to Cape Town's urban forest and biodiversity.
To date, PSHB has been confirmed in over 6 000 trees (among these are Boxelders, London Planes, English Oaks, Beef Wood, Weeping Willow, Cape Chestnut, Black Locust, Paperbark and Maples) across the City in the following areas: Somerset West, Strand, Penhill, Newlands, Constantia, Rondebosch, Observatory, Mowbray, Rosebank, Claremont, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Diep River, Pinelands, Durbanville, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein, Bellville and Parow North.
Since 2019, PSHB symptoms have been observed on 116 (indigenous- 34 and alien - 82) tree species in the City of Cape Town.
‘Improper handling, movement and disposal of PSHB infested material continues to aid the spread of PSHB across the City. The use of pesticides and fungicides have not proven effective at eradicating PSHB from infected trees. Therefore, infested tree material has to be chipped, incinerated or solarised.
‘Our Invasive Species Unit (ISU) will be hosting a PSHB training session aimed at educating residents, businesses (involved in managing/handling trees and plant material) and the general public on how to identify PSHB symptoms on trees and plant material and how to properly handle and manage infested material. We need the support and collaboration of residents and businesses working with plant material to prevent the spread of the pest. I encourage residents and businesses to attend the City’s free training sessions,' said the City's Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
Details for the upcoming PSHB Information session details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Time: 15:30 to 18:00
Venue: Claremont Library, 0C Wilderness Rd, Claremont.
Date: Wednesday, 15 October 2025,
Time: 16:30 to 18:30
Venue: Pinelands Library, Howard Centre, Sheldon Way, Pinelands.
Date: Thursday, 16 October 2025,
Time: 9:30 to 12:00
Venue: Helderberg Nature Reserve Environmental Centre, Verster Ave, Somerset West.
Date: Tuesday, 21 October 2025,
Time: 16:30 to 18:45
Venue: Kraaifontein Library, Brighton Rd, Windsor Park, Kraaifontein.
Date: Thursday, 23 October 2025
Time: 17:00 to 19:00
Venue: At the Cnr Oxford and Koeberg Road, Oxford St, Durbanville.
There are many formal and informal businesses involved with the gardening and landscaping space. The City is calling on gardeners, nursery staff, horticulturists, tree fellers and woodcutters to please attend if possible.
What residents should look out for and symptoms of infested trees:
Branch dieback – cracks on the branch; discoloured leaves; dry and leafless branches; branch break-off revealing webs of galleries filled with black fungus
Gumming – blobs of goo coming out of the bark; oozing of liquid and gum from the beetle holes
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
Staining – brown or dark stains on the bark of the tree
How to report PSHB beetle sightings:
The City will try its best to respond within 10 working days to verify reported sighting on a first come first served basis however, the response time will depend on the number of sightings received or reported.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
