Over 6 000 trees affected: Borer beetles continue to plague Cape Town areas
· The South African
Cape Town’s urban forest is under growing threat as the invasive Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer Beetle (PSHB) continues to spread across the metro, with more than 6 000 trees already confirmed as infected.
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The City of Cape Town is urging residents in the CBD, Hout Bay, Brackenfell, Durbanville and Bellville to attend a series of upcoming public information sessions aimed at curbing the pest’s spread.
The beetle, which bores into trees and introduces a destructive fungus, poses a serious risk to biodiversity and the city’s green spaces. Infected trees include Boxelders, London Planes, English Oaks, Weeping Willows, Cape Chestnuts and Maples, among others.
Borer Beetles confirmed in these Cape Town areas
Infestations have been confirmed in several areas, including Somerset West, Strand, Newlands, Constantia, Rondebosch, Claremont, Wynberg, Pinelands, Kraaifontein, Parow North, the CBD and Hout Bay.
Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, warned that improper handling and disposal of infested material is accelerating the spread.
“We need the support and collaboration of residents and businesses working with plant material to prevent the spread of the pest,” Andrews said.
Gardeners, nurseries, horticulturists, tree fellers and woodcutters are being specifically urged to attend the sessions. The City stressed that pesticides and fungicides have not proven effective in eradicating PSHB. Instead, infected plant material must be chipped, incinerated or solarised.
Details for upcoming information sessions can be found here.
The City will outline identification methods, safe disposal procedures, transport of green waste, as well as how to prevent spreading the beetle via equipment or machinery.
What to look out for
Residents are advised to check trees for:
- Branch dieback, cracked branches and dry, leafless limbs
- Gumming or blobs of liquid seeping from bark
- Tiny sesame-seed-sized holes (about 2mm) in the bark
- Brown or dark staining on the trunk
- Shotgun-like scars around entry points
Left untreated, heavily infested trees often die and may need to be removed.
Residents can report sightings online at the City’s Invasive Species portal, call 021 444 2357 during office hours, or email [email protected].
With thousands of trees already affected, officials say community awareness and responsible handling of plant material will be critical in preventing further damage to Cape Town’s fragile urban ecosystem.