Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer detected within Neil McDougall Park

The Department of Primary Industry & Regional Development (DPIRD) has alerted the City of South Perth to a positive detection of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) in two Erythrina trees within Neil McDougall Park in Como.

Neil McDougall Park is now a PSHB quarantine area, which means that plant material larger than 2cms wide is not permitted to be removed from the area bounded by Clydesdale, Ley, Davilak and Henley streets. The park is still open to the public as normal. 

DPIRD will remove the two affected trees from the park and the quarantine will remain in effect for at least 6 months if no further detections are made after the trees are removed. 

If more infested trees are located the quarantine period may extend into the year.

PSHB is a beetle native to Southeast Asia. The beetle attacks a wide range of plants by tunnelling into trunks, stems and branches.

To find out more or to report a suspected PSHB infestation visit www.agric.wa.gov.au/borer.