East Fremantle backyard dubbed ‘ground zero’ for destructive polyphagous shot-hole borer in Australia

Joanne Taggat’s East Fremantle backyard has been dubbed “ground zero” of the spread of the destructive polyphagous shot-hole borer in Australia.

The academic first noticed the invasive south Asian pest’s unusual markings on a fallen branch of her Box Elder Maple trees in early August 2021.

Within hours of lodging the detection on a dedicated pest guide app, biosecurity staff and entomologists rushed to her place and determined what would soon be the first confirmed case in the country.

In the years since more than 3000 trees have been destroyed across Perth as the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development tried to curb the spread.

“They rushed out to see it and identified it very quickly. The Department had been on the watch for it. It’s been devastating to see it spread,” she said.

The official quarantine zone was expanded on Friday to include the entire Perth metropolitan — reaching as high as Two Rocks in the north and Jarrahdale in the south.

The new boundaries have added an extra five local governments to the area — Armadale, Kwinana, Mundaring, Rockingham and Serpentine-Jarrahdale.

The expanded zone is divided into two divisions: Zone A with stricter regulations for areas with higher infestations, and Zone B with fewer restrictions.

“Expanding the quarantine area will provide an additional buffer zone where we are increasing surveillance for the borer and taking immediate action to manage the pest in this area,” DPIRD’s chief plant biosecurity officer Vincent Lanoiselet said.

Ms Taggat has urged more West Aussies to be vigilant, report detections to the MyPestGuide Reporter app, and comply with the Department’s quarantine rules.

“I hope people spread the word as much as possible. Be vigilant and get your app out if you see something as — in my experience and that of others I know — DPIRD are very responsive,” she said.

“This is going to be a whole community effort. Everyone has a critical role to play. We should all be doing what we can to support the government’s response.”

She had planted the maples 40 years ago and named them after her granddaughters Ella and Olivia as part of a way to educate them about trees and care for the environment.

Ms Taggat said she expressed hope to be part of the State Government’s tree replanting program to replace the trees lost to the pest.

For more information on the expanded quarantine area and the zones, visit agric.wa.gov.au/borer.

Report borer damage through the MyPestGuide Reporter app, phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 or visit the department’s website.