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Shot Hole Borer beetle (PSHB) highly active this time of year-residents to be on the lookout

<p>The City of Cape Town is calling on residents to please be on the lookout for any trees on their properties or at various parks and conservation areas these holidays. The Shot Hole Borer beetle is most active this time of year and so it would be of great help to the City’s Invasive Species Unit if residents could report any signs of infestation and the location of the trees. The City urgently needs the input of residents on a survey that will assist in managing the spread of this infestation as the PSHB is currently posing a huge threat to our trees and urban forests as a whole in Cape Town.</p>

<span> <p>The City of Cape Town urges residents to please complete the following online survey <a href="https://www.research.net/r/3JPCNPW">https://www.research.net/r/3JPCNPW</a>. These survey results will assist the City’s Invasive Species Unit with essential data to further help with its approach to curbing the further spread of this pest. The survey will also be made available to residents at all of the City’s Nature Reserves.</p> <p>To date, over 6 000 infested trees have been identified in Cape. Among these trees, there are highly susceptible reproductive host species such as Boxelder; Weeping Willow; Poplars and English Oak.<br></p> <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/PSHB_1.jpg" alt="" style="width:370px;" /> </figure></span> <span> <p>‘The PSHB poses a serious threat to Cape Town’s urban forest. The PSHB beetle is highly active this time of year and so we need residents to know how to manage and transport beetle infested biomass to prevent the spread of the pest as far as possible. We need the support and collaboration of residents and businesses working with plant material to prevent the spread of the pest. I urge residents and businesses to please take a few minutes and complete this survey to assist the team with the crucial planning on how to further educate the public on this pest as urgently as possible. We need the public to realise the seriousness of the situation and the huge threat PSHB poses to our trees in Cape Town,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.</p> <p>The PSHB 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> <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/PSHB_2.jpeg" alt="" style="width:556px;" /> </figure></span> <span> <h4>What to look out for and symptoms of infested trees:</h4> <ul><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 – brown or dark stains on the bark of the tree</li></ul> <p>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 fire wood from areas where trees are infested.</p> <h4>How to report PSHB beetle sightings:</h4> <ul><li>Online, at <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/InvasiveSpecies">www.capetown.gov.za/InvasiveSpecies</a> </li><li>Call the City of Cape Town’s Invasive Species Unit on <a>021 444 2357</a>, Monday to Friday, from 07:30 to 16:00 </li><li>Send an email to: <a href="mailto:invasive.species@capetown.gov.za">invasive.species@capetown.gov.za</a> <br> </li></ul> <figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Inline%20Images/PSHB_3.jpg" alt="" /> </figure></span> <h4>What to do once you have spotted PSHB: </h4><ul><li><div style="text-align:justify;">Chip the tree, place the infested material in refuse bags, seal it and put these in direct sunlight for at least six weeks </div></li><li><div style="text-align:justify;">Dump the chips in your compost heap as the heat build-up will kill the beetle </div></li><li><div style="text-align:justify;">Burn infected wood chips at an appropriate incineration facilities </div></li><li><div style="text-align:justify;">Where chipping is not possible, cut infested wood into smaller pieces that can fit into solarisation plastic bags </div></li><li><div style="text-align:justify;">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 </div></li><li><div style="text-align:justify;">Seek assistance from trained and equipped service providers with sound knowledge of PSHB </div></li><li><div style="text-align:justify;">Do not move plant/tree material/firewood outside of areas where PSHB has been confirmed to be present to other areas </div></li><li><div style="text-align:justify;">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. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:justify;">Clean tools and equipment used to trim/cut/prune plants </div></li></ul><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> <br> <strong>End</strong></p> <span></span><span></span><span></span>

2024-12-19T22:00:00Z

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