The City of Wanneroo is working with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) to help manage the spread of the invasive pest Polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB).
What does this mean?
Quarantine Area
A Quarantine Area (QA) covering the entire Perth metropolitan area is in place, with restrictions on the movement of wood, green waste, mulch, live plants and plant material.
The QA is split into two zones with parts of the City of Wanneroo in either:
• The Management Zone which covers the inner metropolitan area and includes the suburbs of Alexander Heights, Ashby, Banksia Grove, Carramar, Clarkson, Darch, Girrawheen, Gnangara, Hocking, Jandabup, Koondoola, Landsdale, Madeley, Marangaroo, Mariginiup, Mindarie, Neerabup, Pearsall, Sinagra, Tamala Park, Tapping, Wangara, Wanneroo and Woodvale ; and
• The Containment Zone which is the area between the Management Zone and the outer boundary of the QA. This includes the suburbs of Quinns Rock, Merriwa, Ridgewood, Nowergup, Pinjar, Jindalee, Butler, Alkimos, Carabooda, Eglington, Yanchep, Two Rocks.
Movement Restrictions
To limit the spread of shot-hole borer, the following restrictions apply to the movement of host plant material:
• Host plant material must not be moved from the Management Zone to the Containment Zone or to outside the QA.
• Host plant material must not be moved from within the QA to outside the QA.
• Any machinery, equipment and vehicles used in the processing or handling of wood, including wood mulching and chipping, must be cleaned of all wood and plant material before being moved into the Containment Zone or outside of the QA.
These restrictions apply to host plant material such as unseasoned wood, green waste and mulch that is larger than 2.5 cm in diameter, and live plants with woody stems greater than 2 cm in diameter.
To see which zone your property is in, follow this link to the DPIRD interactive map Polyphagous shot-hole borer | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Check your trees!
We need your help to stop the spread of the PSHB! If you suspect borer damage, report it to DPIRD on 9368 3080, padis@dpird.wa.gov.au, or via the MyPestGuide app.
How to spot infected trees?
- Beetle entry hole – The entrance holes of PSHB are approximately the size of a ballpoint pen tip.
- Discoloration/staining of wood – The fungus cultivated by the beetle can cause dark discolouration on a tree.
- Gumming – Thick sap sometimes pushes the beetle out of the gallery.
- Sugar volcanoes – Crystalline foam may be exuded from entry/exit holes.
- Frass – Produced by the beetle’s tunnelling, frass may present extruding from trees.
- Dieback – In susceptible trees, the fungus kills tree vascular tissue causing branch dieback and tree death.
Bore holes |
Galleries |
Frass |
Gumming |
Lesions / staining |
Sugar volcanos |
Top hosts of PSHB include Maple (Acer), Plane (Platanus), Robinia (Robinia), Poplars (Populus), Oak (Quercus), Avocado (Persea), Fig (Ficus) and Coral Tree (Erythrina).
About PSHB
Polyphagous shot-hole borer is a beetle native to Southeast Asia. About the size of a sesame seed, PSHB excavates tunnels in trees where they cultivate fungus as a food source.
This fungus spreads in the tunnels of trees disrupting the flow of water and nutrients. This can result in tree dieback and death.
If PSHB were to become established in the City, it could significantly impact our urban canopy.
The City of Wanneroo in collaboration with DPIRD continue to undertake surveillance and management activities across the metropolitan area including:
- surveillance to determine the distribution of PSHB
- containing the pest to prevent further spread to non-infested regions within Western Australia
- removing infested trees to eradicate the beetle and save healthy trees
- providing advice and information to residents, industry and other stakeholders
- ensuring all response activities are conducted safely, consistently and efficiently.
PSHB is a serious issue across the Perth metropolitan area and a Quarantine Area is currently in place to support DPIRD's ongoing surveillance and to help to stop the spread of the pest.
The City of Wanneroo is collaborating with DPIRD as part of a coordinated emergency response to slow the spread of the PSHB from Western Australia.
The City is also training staff to recognise the signs of PSHB activity and raising awareness of the potential impacts of the PSHB within the community.
The best thing you can do to help is to download the MyPestGuide app, inspect your trees, and report any suspected sightings of PSHB.
Let’s work together to eradicate this pest!
More information
Find out more about PSHB at: