A tree-killing beetle on the move across Perth has likely been unwittingly spread beyond quarantine boundaries by people unaware of its existence, one scientist has warned. The polyphagous shot-hole borer was previously believed to be contained to the Perth metropolitan area, having destroyed 3,000 trees since it was first detected in Western Australia in 2021. "It is important that wood …
The polyphagous shot-hole borer, a tiny beetle that is killing mature trees, has been detected in four suburbs outside the Perth quarantine zone, sparking concern the invasive pest is spreading. WA Minister for Agriculture Jackie Jarvis said the detection of the borer beyond the boundaries of the quarantine zone, within which DPIRD aims to eradicate the beetle, was "incredibly concerning". …