People who regularly buy wood or store wood are warned against the Shot-Hole Borer Beetle, which can cause a lot of damage.
A press release being circulated in the Overberg says these tiny beetle, en-masse, can devastate the orchards and oak trees if the public and authorities don’t work together to stop the problem. “The trees that make our valley so beautiful and a must-visit destination are in danger of being killed,” it stated.
According to an expert some of the primary hosts that the Shot-Hole Borer Beetle feed on are the Boxelder, Chinese mable, English Oak, London Plane, Blackwood, Long-leaved Wattle, Black Wattle, Beafwood and White Poplar.
To manage the problem the following recommendations can be followed: . Monitor the wood for small pinhead-size holes with sawdust, branches that are dying and trees that are in a bad state. If your observe one of the problems report it immediately.. Remove infested branches to lower population numbers. Ensure killing the beetles by covering with clear plastic for four moths before transporting.. Remove infested trees.. Cut only in cold weather to avoid releasing beetles when cutting mid-day or on hot days.For more information visit www.pshb.hortgro.science or report any sightings at pshb@hortgro.co.za
