Polyphagous Shot hole Borer.
By Ken Walker (Available online: PaDIL - http://www.padil.gov.a) - http://www.padil.gov.au/pests-and-diseases/
pest/main/136019, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45405376
crop that’s affected at present are pecan nut
trees on farms in the Northern Cape.
In Israel and California the beetle caused
substantial damage in avocado orchards, and
although South African orchards are closely
monitored by FABI team members, we have
only detected it on a single backyard avocado
tree in Johannesburg. Similarly, we found
it on roadside wattle and eucalyptus trees,
but so far, the pest hasn’t been detected
in commercial Eucalyptus, wattle or pine
plantations.
In our opinion the most significant threat, but
also the most difficult to predict and manage,
is to South Africa’s native tree species such
as coral trees, wild olives, yellow woods and
Natal figs.
Managing the problem
California has been battling the beetle
problem for the last 10 years. A recent visit to
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
the area helped us to establish what practical
actions have been taken to bring the problem
under control.
An effective public awareness campaign
was launched, informing residents and
local governments about the beetle and its
impact. Municipalities removed reproductive
host trees, most of which were going to die
anyway. The state also introduced legislation
preventing infested wood from being
moved from one area to another. Although
researchers there have shown that chemical
control of the beetle and fungus on individual
trees can protect them, this has not been
applied widely, and is typically only used to
protect high value individual trees.
The major challenge in South Africa is
to connect different stakeholders and
government bodies through effective
communication. Roles and responsibilities
(also financial) of all contingents, at national,
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