The tiny beetle that could wipe out half the trees in our cities
The polyphagous shot-hole borer, a tiny beetle first detected in Western Australia in 2021, has already led to the removal of 4,000 trees in Perth and could threaten nearly half of the urban tree canopy in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Scientists estimate that 47% of Sydney's trees are at risk, including iconic species like Moreton Bay figs, if the beetle spreads to the east coast. While eradication has been abandoned in Western Australia, authorities hope containment and management strategies can limit damage in other cities.
- ▪The polyphagous shot-hole borer originated in South-East Asia and was discovered in Western Australia in 2021.
- ▪Research indicates 47% of Sydney’s urban tree canopy is at risk from the beetle, including figs, flame trees, and eucalyptus species.
- ▪Western Australia has shifted from eradication to containment after removing 4,000 infected trees, including at Government House and Kings Park.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.