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NMBM cautions residents on discovery of polyphagous short hole borer beetle in the Bay

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has urged residents to be vigilant amid the discovery of the deadly borer beetle in the Bay, which destroys various types of trees.

The discovery and disposal of the dead tree was made by NMBM officials recently following a report by a concerned resident in Lorraine, Gqeberha, who requested the removal of a suspected dying tree in front of his house.

Upon investigation, the NMBM officials confirmed that indeed a borer beetle was the cause of the decaying or death of the tree.

It should be noted that an outbreak of this beetle was detected in South Africa in KwaZulu Natal Botanical Garden Pietermaritzburg in 2017 and has already caused death to trees in the area and in Cape Town.

NMBM Public Health Mayoral Committee Member, Cllr Thsonono Buyeye said the City has been on the lookout since the information came to its attention.

“This borer beetle is called polyphagous short hall beetle that bores into trunks of favourable host trees and start its life cycle in the tree and feeding on the tree eventually killing the tree. This beetle originated from South-East Asia and was detected in Perth and Western Australia in 2011. The danger is that the trees die and are more vulnerable to strong winds as they are rotten. We want to warn our people to be on the lookout, we don’t want the rotten trees to fall on people, children or property,” said MMC Buyeye

How is the Polyphagous Beetle identified?

The Polyphagous Beetle is a small black or brown 1mm in size with greyish hairs. It belongs to the Curculionidae family.

It is a dangerous beetle due to its rapid multiplication within its host. It bores into the trees causing short holes that are closed by the wood dust on the outside of the tree that look like fungus.

It has been spotted in various species of trees that includes the Quercus species, Acacia species and Brachychiton species. Its manifestation results in the dryness of leave of the tree and eventually death.

Things to be taken into consideration when removing the tree that has been infested by the borer beetle:

  • Use of special chainsaws for the infected tree
  • Use of tarpaulin, canvas or black dampcourse to cover the material in the truck once tree has been felled
  • Use rope to secure the plastic covering the branches on the truck
  • Covering remaining tree stumps with plastic after removal of the tree
  • Transporting cut material to a safe area for burning to prevent further spreading of the pest.

Residents can report any suspected infestation of the beetle to NMBM on 0415061729/11 or email to pgibbsrec@mandelametro.gov.za.

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NMB Communications

Media Communications at Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
The Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality Communications Department is responsible for communicating pertinent Municipal news from Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and Despatch. Municipality Contact Details. See more articles by NMB Communication's.