Restrictions due to Polyphagus shot-hole borer

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is working with the community, industry and State and Commonwealth Governments to minimise the impact of this pest.

Residents cannot move any wood or plant material outside the quarantine area, including: bark, firewood, tree prunings, logs, timber, wood chips, mulch, potted plants and plant cuttings. Restrictions don't apply to lawn clippings, wood chips under 2.5cm wide and living plants with woody stems under 2cm wide.

Any gardening machinery or equipment used for tree lopping, gardening, mulching, wood chipping or handling green waste must not be moved outside of the quarantine area unless it has been cleaned of all green waste material.

The City's free mulch program has been put on hold to comply with quarantine rules. 

Residents who suspect they have borer damage to trees should make a report to the department through the Pest and Disease Information Service.

The Polyphagous shot-hole borer is approximately 2mm in length and range from brown to black in colour. Only females have the ability to fly and disperse to other trees. Males are smaller at approximately 1.6mm in length and have no wings. Detection is difficult as they are very small – about the size of a sesame seed. However, there are a number of symptoms that indicate a tree may be infested. 

The host list is extensive with over 400 hosts including Maple (Acer), Oak (Quercus), Plane (Platanus), Coral tree (Erythrina), Avocado (Persea) and Willows (Salix). PSHB causes serious damage to many types of trees, but it particularly loves to hide in the box elder maple (Acer negundo).

How to report

Quarantine area