Residents of South Australia are uniting in their efforts to keep the invasive polyphagous shot-hole borer from spreading into their state. This tiny beetle, first detected in Western Australia in 2021, poses a significant threat to various crops and trees, including avocados, apples, pears, macadamias, and mangoes. If it spreads fully, the beetle will bring ruin to agricultural industries. It would imperil tens of thousands of street trees and parkland trees across South Australia.
In some sad, yet predictable irony, the polyphagous shot-hole borer has established itself to the east of Perth. This invasion has alarmed the local farmers and officials that it has affected. Herald sun, CC BY-NC The Western Australia government last week announced it would cease eradication attempts for the pest. This decision has understandably sent shockwaves through South Australia given the damage it could cause. Shortly after the news broke, growers and residents began to panic. They’re on the lookout for any signs of the beetle so that they can work together to stop its advance.
Economic Implications for Growers
Our local growers, particularly those in the avocado industry, bear the brunt of the threat posed by polyphagous shot-hole borer. This pest represents a serious threat to their livelihoods. Most recently, Riverland avocado grower George Loffler shared his fears over the possible impact on his operation.
“I don’t really see how we’re going to stop it, and that’s probably one of the scary things,” – George Loffler.
Loffler continued to explain the potential impact on his family-run business and the national supply chain. He continued, “What does this mean for us as a company and as a family, and how does it affect all of the other supply chain entities that rely on our avocado inventory?”
Additionally, he highlighted the risks posed by pesticides that may be necessary for controlling the pest: “We don’t want pesticides and chemicals affecting our fruit, and it could be a situation where we might have to abandon our harvest if we have to use those options to control the pest.”
Vigilance and Monitoring
For their part, authorities are encouraging South Australians to stay on the lookout. Nick Secomb, a representative from the state’s agriculture department, emphasized the importance of monitoring for signs of the polyphagous shot-hole borer. “We’ve been looking for this pest for the last few years, so we have to keep doing that and make sure we don’t have it,” he stated.
To prevent the pest from making its way to South Australia, Secomb was able to highlight the domestic and international biosecurity measures implemented. “The real risk for us is that it might get picked and brought here, and so we’ve had movement controls in place for a while now in our plant quarantine standard,” he explained. Luckily, there are some backups such as the Ceduna quarantine station, where incoming traffic from Western Australia is checked to see if they have symptoms.
Threat to Urban Green Spaces
Outside of agriculture, the polyphagous shot-hole borer poses catastrophic threats to urban forests. The beetle is a risk to shade and ornamental trees in urban as well as rural settings. This would greatly affect the millions of people who enjoy nature in their backyards. George Loffler mentioned the broader implications: “I think there’s a lot more damage done to ornamental trees, which is obviously going to have serious impacts on the millions of people living with a house and a backyard that have got certain varieties of trees.”
Nathan Paine, an agricultural development advocate, emphasized the importance of acting before a crisis emerges. It is important that we act now in WA before this issue grows larger. Let’s do it.” So let’s go do it!” he continued. Paine singled out impressive trees at sites such as Adelaide Oval as particular targets for the beetle’s eradication.
