As the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) beetle infection slows down in the Elma Park road enclosure, affected property owners are encouraged to replant trees.
Founders of the informal PSHB committee, created by the enclosure to attend to the beetles, Alex Dellas and Bruce Williams, said with so many trees affected by the invasive beetle the neighbourhood’s trees were severely impacted.
“Over 100 various trees died or were infected by the beetle,” said Dellas. Only two millimetres in size, the beetle bores tunnels into tree trunks and spreads the fungus.
The beetles, believed to be of Asian origin, contain the fungal symbiont fusarium euwallaceae, which infects the trees. Once the tree is infected by the fungus it slowly dies, and once the tree dies the beetle flies to another tree.
Affected trees lose a portion of their leaves, have a fine light brown powder covering the bark and damp circular dark markings on the bark.
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Dellas said if there is a dead tree on the verge or pavement of a property then the resident needs to try to determine if the tree was infected by the PSHB beetle.
“If homeowners suspect the tree was infested by the beetle it would be best to make use of a specialist.”
Alternatively, they should contact the City of Ekurhuleni to report the dead tree so it can be cut down and removed.
“Community members should be responsible and make use of the correct channels before taking matters into their own hands by cutting down a seemingly y dead tree,” said Dellas.
“If there is a live tree on the pavement it is important that community members look after it and keep it as healthy as possible.”
Trees which community members can consider replanting, which is PSHB, resistant include the Wild Olive and the Black Karee.
“Trees keep the area cool and attract birdlife. It also adds a certain aesthetic to a neighbourhood,” said Dellas.
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