Residents reminded of online meeting about borer beetle threat

6 February 2023

The beetle poses a serious threat to our urban forest as infested trees have to be chipped. Residents are encouraged to get involved in preventing this pest from spreading even further

The beetle poses a serious threat to our urban forest as infested trees have to be chipped. Residents are encouraged to get involved in preventing this pest from spreading even further. Some trees in Newlands, Rondebosch, Mowbray and Claremont have been infested already, with the Liesbeek River being identified as a priority pathway.

‘We are calling on residents, interest groups and experts to assist the City to prevent this pest from spreading even further. The beetle is threatening our urban forest. This is a very serious and alarming situation. I want to caution our communities not to be complacent, and to inspect all trees on private properties for symptoms of infestation.

‘It is very important to note that infested trees may not be removed from the property as the removal of the chipped wood will spread the pest to other areas.

‘At this online meeting, officials from our Invasive Species Unit will give important information. I urge residents to please attend this online meeting if possible, and to help us beat the beetle,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

Details of the online meeting:

• It will be hosted on Microsoft Teams

• Date: Tuesday, 7 February 2023

• Time: 18:30 to 20:00

RSVP: https://forms.gle/T7mUexES6Qi9sHnd9
To join, click here: Click here to join the meeting

Infestation update:

A Boxelder tree infested with the invasive Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer beetle (PSHB) was discovered on a private property in Newlands on 24 January 2023
Since then, the Invasive Species Unit has been conducting assessments in the Newlands, Rondebosch, Mowbray and Claremont areas
The Liesbeek River has been identified as a priority pathway, and the City has allocated resources to conduct assessments to determine the extent and distribution of the beetle in the area
The City will soon commence with the removal of infested trees on City owned land – these are public open spaces, river corridors, green belts, road verges, public parks
Unfortunately, the only way to prevent the spreading of the invasive beetle is to chip affected trees, and carefully remove the biomass under cover of heavy duty plastic and to incinerate it at an appropriate site. The use of pesticides and fungicides have a very limited effect.
A PSHB beetle infestation was first discovered in Oldenland Road, Somerset West, in an ailing London plane in March 2019. To date, only trees in the Somerset West area have been affected and removed. The recent sightings in Newlands and surroundings are very alarming

‘Experiences in California, Israel, and closer to home – in Gauteng, have shown that the PSHB beetle can easily spread across suburbs if extra precaution is not taken. Apart from infected wood, the 2mm big borer beetle can also spread through clothing, vehicle crevices, or unclean horticultural equipment,’ said Alderman Andrews.

The beetle’s most likely pathway or vector is through the movement of infested wood, originating from dead or dying PSHB infested trees, including wood intended to be used for cooking or heating.

How to report PSHB beetle sightings

• Online, at www.capetown.gov.za/InvasiveSpecies

• Call the City of Cape Town’s Invasive Species Unit on 021 444 2357, Monday to Friday, from 07:30 to 16:00

• Send an email to: invasive.species@capetown.gov.za

We will respond as soon as possible, pending the number of sightings that are reported.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office

Invasive Alien Species