Capetonians asked to pitch in as shot hole borer beetle spreads

Capetonians have been urged to check for signs of invasive polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) which is spreading in some suburbs.

PSHB is an ambrosia beetle about 2mm long which makes tunnels in the wood of trees. The female beetles infest trees with a fungus — they feed on this fungus, not the wood — and it is the fungus that kills the trees. 

The creatures have decimated trees in parts of the country.

An infestation was initially discovered in 2019 at Somerset West.

However, another was located on a private property on January 24 this year in Newlands. They have also been found in Rondebosch, Mowbray and Claremont, with Liesbeek River identified as a priority pathway.