PSHB is an ambrosia beetle, about 2mm long, which makes tunnels in the wood of trees. The female beetles infest trees with a fungus — they feed on this fungus, not the wood — and it's this fungus that kills the trees in the end.
What makes this beetle unique is that it can infest so many different species of trees. Most other beetles are quite specific – for example, they go for pine trees or avocado trees, not everything. This beetle is absolutely relentless: it will try any tree, although in many trees it is unsuccessful.
This includes both exotic and local varieties; about 35 of the 80 are indigenous. Scientists are monitoring the beetle’s spread into native forests.
Almost every species of tree has different signs of infection. Some trees have a white powder, some a brown sap and others just a drop on the trunk.
Now that the beetle is in Somerset West, it is my prediction that there will be very, very few oaks left in the Cape Peninsula based on what we have seen in George, Knysna and Johannesburg. Streets of trees are already dying.
In Johannesburg, for example, we know that the Jacarandas and white stinkwoods are quite common and those are not infected, though sometimes they have a few holes.
We are still doing more research to be certain which species are not affected.
Scientists are doing experiments to find out how to prevent PSHB infection and how to get rid of it, but there are no positive scientific results unfortunately.

(That said, Johannesburg City Parks maintains that homeowners should keep their trees well fertilised and watered, as "a healthy tree is more like to withstand the effects of the PSHB".)
A reproductive host tree is a tree in which a beetle is successfully established and starts breeding.

There are 20 different species that have been identified as reproductive hosts; English oaks, London planes and Chinese and Japanese maples become heavily infested.

(The wood from infested trees that have been cut down must be dealt with carefully in order not to inadvertently spread the beetles to other trees, or other areas. To find out how to properly dispose of it.

Nicely captured!

Montfrooij Posted at 10-19 00:35
Nicely captured!

Thank you Peter

Droffarc Posted at 10-19 02:02
Thank you Peter

You're welcome!

Sad to see the devastation that beetles can cause.  Nicely documented Droffarc.  

Hope you are having a great week.

Lets hope it works and doesn't spread.  We need more trees.  

DowntownRDB Posted at 10-19 02:54
Sad to see the devastation that beetles can cause.  Nicely documented Droffarc.  

Hope you are having a great week.

And they are only 2mm long! the dirty rotten bug(ers).

DAFlys Posted at 10-19 03:08
Lets hope it works and doesn't spread.  We need more trees.

Imagin what the squirrels must have to say!

Mountains, rivers and trees make life worth living.

lovely spot, sad story.

Droffarc Posted at 10-19 04:18
Imagin what the squirrels must have to say!

Mountains, rivers and trees make life worth living.

A squirrel fell off some anti climb wheels the other day and nearly landed on my head.  Luckily I heard it scrambling and looked up as it fell just in to to leap out the way.  

Nice video. But a gloomy tale.  Sounds far worse than woodworm or death watch beetle. But do they only thrive on worked timber?

Depp Posted at 10-19 05:06
lovely spot, sad story.

DAFlys Posted at 10-19 06:05
A squirrel fell off some anti climb wheels the other day and nearly landed on my head.  Luckily I heard it scrambling and looked up as it fell just in to to leap out the way.

Not his fault your head was in the wrong place. Sounds like you folks dont like squirrels climbing up stuff?
I wish we had more around here - they are so fluffy and "cute" - squirrels not trees.
I'm thinking of doing a video about our squirrels - maybe call it "son of scrat" Just need some sabre toothed trees

Blériot53 Posted at 10-19 07:00
Nice video. But a gloomy tale.  Sounds far worse than woodworm or death watch beetle. But do they only thrive on worked timber?

Thanks Roger, worked timber? What means this?
We dont have much timber, just fewer trees due to these little bug(er)s.

Droffarc Posted at 10-19 07:14
Thanks Roger, worked timber? What means this?
We dont have much timber, just fewer trees due to these little bug(er)s.

Lumber, do you call it?  Building materials. House structural timbers.

Blériot53 Posted at 10-19 07:21
Lumber, do you call it?  Building materials. House structural timbers.

See here for more info

https://mg.co.za/environment/202 ... using-big-problems/

Droffarc Posted at 10-19 07:11
Not his fault your head was in the wrong place. Sounds like you folks dont like squirrels climbing up stuff?
I wish we had more around here - they are so fluffy and "cute" - squirrels not trees.
I'm thinking of doing a video about our squirrels - maybe call it "son of scrat" Just need some sabre toothed trees

OR
maybe he thought you were NUTS?

Droffarc Posted at 10-19 07:11
Not his fault your head was in the wrong place. Sounds like you folks dont like squirrels climbing up stuff?
I wish we had more around here - they are so fluffy and "cute" - squirrels not trees.
I'm thinking of doing a video about our squirrels - maybe call it "son of scrat" Just need some sabre toothed trees

A friend of mine would disagrees with you,  he was walking across a carpark and one rand down a tree across the carpark,  up his leg about a foot and bit him.   He literally had to go to hospital over it.

Droffarc Posted at 10-19 04:15
And they are only 2mm long! the dirty rotten bug(ers).

  But hungry little fellas.

DAFlys Posted at 10-19 23:02
A friend of mine would disagrees with you,  he was walking across a carpark and one rand down a tree across the carpark,  up his leg about a foot and bit him.   He literally had to go to hospital over it.

Sounds like the rare leg biting sabre toothed squirrel!
Your friend coud have lost 'is nuts! If it was green, then it would have used its light sabre and he would have lost 'is bloomin body!
Goes to show - dont underestimate the power of the Bark side

DowntownRDB Posted at 10-20 03:45
But hungry little fellas.

Yip! they like their mushrooms with a woody aroma

Droffarc Posted at 10-20 05:37
Yip! they like their mushrooms with a woody aroma

  I bet they do.  

Hope you are having a great week.