Shot-hole Borer
Since the invasive shot-hole borer was found in Perth, there have been a series of attempts to eradicate the insect to save Perth's parks and orchards. Check out the links and videos below to learn about the history of the shot-hole borer in Australia and what has been learned about how to control its spread.
Government of Western Australia: Shot-Hole Borer
Where did the shot-hole borer come from? Read this article from the Government of Western Australia explaining the origins of the invasive insect in Perth and the impact it's had on the local environment.
Government of Western Australia (2025). Polyphagous shot-hole borer. [online] www.agric.wa.gov.au. Available at: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/borer.
Friends of Lake Claremont Newsletter
Click on the recent newsletter from Friends of Lake Claremont to learn more about how the shot-hole borer is being managed in that area.
Friends of Lake Claremont (2025). Newsletter. [online] Available at: https://friendsoflakeclaremont.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FOLC-News-March-2025.pdf [Accessed 2 Jun. 2025].
ABC News: Shot-hole Borers in Perth Over Time
New discoveries have been made in how to deal with trees infested with the shot-hole borer. Watch the two videos below, and read the final article, to see how the authorities have evolved in their approach to this destructive pest.
MARCH 2024:
ABC News (Australia) (2024). Tiny shot-hole borer is wreaking havoc across Perth, but the threat doesn’t end there. | ABC News. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93OSRO8_AyU [Accessed 2 Jun. 2025].
OCTOBER 2024:
ABC News (Australia) (2024). As the shot-hole borer spreads in Perth, calls grow for another method to cutting trees | ABC News. [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpLl8uf8H1A [Accessed 30 Mar. 2025].
APRIL 2025:
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New trial against polyphagous shot-hole borer achieves early success
By Ashleigh Davis and Kate Leaver
Davis, A. and Leaver, K. (2025). New trial against polyphagous shot-hole borer achieves early success. [online] Abc.net.au. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-10/polyphagos-shot-hole-borer-trial-early-success-canning/105157656?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web [Accessed 2 Jun. 2025].