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26 September 2019 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Leonie Bolleurs
Read More Prof Wijnand Swart PSHB
A small 2 mm beetle, known as the Polyphagous shothole borer (PSHB) kills and infects trees. South Africa is the largest geographical area in the world to be infested with this tree killer. Pictured here is Prof Wijnand Swart who is working with two neighbourhood associations in Bloemfontein to monitor the occurrence of the beetle in the city.

Ornamental trees are dying all over South Africa, and it is feared that certain fruit and nut trees are also in danger. This is cause for great concern, not only among ecologists, farmers, foresters, and landscapers, but for homeowners as well. In private gardens and on streets throughout the country, trees that are afflicted include English oak, Chinese and Japanese maples, boxelder, and sweetgum.
 
The cause of all this havoc is a small 2-mm beetle, known as the Polyphgous shothole borer (PSHB; Euwallacea fornicatus) that originates from Southeast Asia.

Working to find a solution

"Based on damage seen in the USA and Israel, there is significant danger of losing many of our ornamental trees as well as fruit and certain nut trees in South Africa,” says Prof Wijnand Swart, Professor of Plant Pathology and Discipline Head in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Cases of afflicted trees were reported from all provinces in South Africa, except for Mpumalanga. Countries such as Israel and the USA have also suffered great losses as a result of this beetle.  

Research is being conducted on the beetle and its associated fungus, Fusarium euwallaceae, in order to understand their relationship and hopefully find a solution to stop, or at least manage, the invasion of trees. To investigate the largest geographical outbreak of this beetle in the world, academics from seven universities in South Africa are working together with the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria through a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary research network. UFS researchers are part of this network.
 
Senior Lecturer in the UFS Department of Plant Sciences, Dr Gert Marais, is conducting research on the PSHB and its associated fungi, with the focus on pecan trees, in conjunction with the South African Pecan Nut Producers' Association. Cases of infected pecan-nut trees were reported in the Northern Cape as well as in Nelspruit. 
 
Prof Swart is working with entomologists in the UFS Department of Zoology and Entomology to find a biological control agent to parasitise the beetle. “I have already found one instance of a parasitic wasp associated with the beetle and will continue to search for more specimens during the coming summer,” he commented. 
 
Understanding the beetle

The first cases of infected trees were discovered in 2017 when Dr Trudi Paap, associated with FABI and the South African National Biodiversity Institute, conducted a survey of pests and diseases in and around National Botanical Gardens in South Africa. 
 
FABI has been studying the tree killer intensively to find out more about its life cycle. The term ‘polyphagous’ refers to the ability of the PSHB to infest many different tree species.

On their website, FABI states that an important distinction is being made between different types of infestations. “Reproductive host trees are trees that are infested by the beetle and where it successfully establishes a breeding gallery in which the fungus grows, where eggs are laid, and larvae develop into mature adults, thus completing its life cycle. The majority of reproductive hosts eventually succumb to the disease symptoms caused by the fungus.”
 
“Non-reproductive host trees are trees where the beetle attacks, penetrates, and inoculates the fungus, which then starts to grow in the sapwood. However, the beetle either leaves or dies without reproducing in these trees. The fungus can eventually kill or damage reproductive hosts, but many of the tree species on this list seem to be unaffected.”
 
Involving the community

The situation also provides an opportunity for communities to directly benefit from research conducted by tertiary institutions. Prof Swart is working together with two neighbourhood associations in Bloemfontein to monitor the occurrence of the beetle in the city and surrounding areas. 

He urges residents in the Mangaung Metro who find instances of infected trees, to report it to Duart Hugo (duarthugo99@gmail.com ), who is compiling a database of infected trees in the area. 
 
FABI advises homeowners to cut down heavily infested reproductive host trees. Should you decide to burn the wood, note that beetles will fly away when the wood becomes hot or when smoke appears. Do not burn infested trees in uninfected areas.

Other interesting material

An actual Polyphagous shothole borer PSHB beetle
An actual Polyphagous shothole borer PSHB beetle
UFS Researcher Prof Wijnand Swart seeks to eradicate Polyphagous shothole borer PSHB
UFS Researcher Prof Wijnand Swart seeks to eradicate Polyphagous shothole borer PSHB
Polyphagous shothole borer PSHB larva in tree bark
Polyphagous shothole borer PSHB larva in tree bark

News Archive

Statement by the senior leadership of the University of the Free State
2016-02-29

Statement by the senior leadership of the University of the Free State regarding the situation on the Bloemfontein Campus 

All academic and administrative activities on the Bloemfontein and South Campuses of the University of the Free State (UFS) resume on Monday 29 February 2016.

In light of the recent incidents on the Bloemfontein Campus, the university leadership would like to address the understandable concerns of students, staff and the general public. The university obviously respects the rights of individuals to freedom of speech and expression, but notes that these rights are subject to reasonable limitation, and cannot extend to justifying criminal acts.

The Bloemfontein Campus is secure and security measures have been doubled up to ensure the safety of students, staff and public property. The court interdict is in place and will be enacted if required. Unlawful disruptions, including those involving criminal conduct, will not be tolerated.

The university strongly condemns the unlawful and unacceptable conduct by students, protesting outsourced workers, and visitors to its campus during the past week, and in particular the assault on protestors at Xerox Shimla Park on Monday 22 February 2016 during a Varsity Cup rugby match between the FNB Shimlas and FNB Madibaz. The university has started a comprehensive and independent investigation into criminal activities on this campus before, during and after the Xerox Shimla Park events.

The university regrets the destruction of public property and the intimidation of staff and students which led to the shutdown of academic and administrative activities on the Bloemfontein Campus. Extensive investigations are underway to identify the perpetrators who took part in all incidents of disruption and criminal conduct, and urgent steps will be taken against such individuals or organisations in due course.

The university leadership remains deeply concerned about a dangerous and damaging allegation that a lecturer was identified on a widely circulated photograph while assaulting a protestor at the Varsity Cup rugby match on Monday 22 February 2016. The university diligently investigated this allegation and found it to be false; the individual is NOT a member of the UFS staff. A suspect was however identified and evidence handed over to the South African Police Services (SAPS) for urgent action.

It has further come to the attention of the university management that a number of individuals and organisations continue to make blatantly false and defamatory statements on social media platforms with the intention of inciting criminal conduct, threatening individuals, and spreading fear within the university community in order to unsettle the campus. Investigations are at an advanced stage to prosecute individuals and groups involved in such criminal conduct in the social media; both those who post these statements and those who repost or retweet them, are liable under the law.

Should you wish to confirm whether there is any truth attached to a circulated rumour or allegation, please call +27(0)51 401 2911, +27(0)51 401 2634 or send an email to news@ufs.ac.za. Legal steps will be taken against individuals and organisations that persist in circulating such misleading and damaging statements.
    
The UFS urges all individuals who are in possession of evidence or knowledge of any crimes that have been committed on the Bloemfontein Campus in the past week, to come forward with such evidence and information and to call the numbers indicated above or to send an email to news@ufs.ac.za. Any individuals who are in possession of video footage and photographs of the incidents at Xerox Shimla Park, the Equitas Building (formerly known as the CR Swart Building), Thakaneng Bridge, various residences, the Main Building and the grounds in front of the building, are requested to provide such evidence in order to assist with the identification of those involved in criminal acts.

The university leadership remains committed to its duty to act in the best interests of its students and staff and calls on its community and the public to act peacefully at all times and respect the rights of others.

Issued by: Lacea Loader
(Director: Communication and Brand Management)
Email: news@ufs.ac.za

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