UPDATE: Specialist calls for calm after shot hole borer panic

After panic broke out over the dreaded polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) invading North Coast trees, one man is calling for calm.

Crop protection specialist Jeff Blesovsky from Salt Rock said new pests that are resistant to pesticides arrive every year.

“PSHB has been put in the public eye and because people are now aware of it, they have latched onto the hype and they are creating a panic,” said Blesovsky who has lived on the Dolphin Coast since the early 80s and is a franchise owner of Farmers Agri-Care.

While the concern of PSHB attacking macadamia nut tree and avocado plantations is legitimate, he said a solution for the pest will be found soon.

“People are concerned that nothing is being done, but this is far from the truth. The big companies such as Bayer are critically aware of the problem and are working on finding a solution, but these things take time as there is so much pressure on them to produce environmentally friendly, host specific products.”

To make matters more challenging, Blesovsky said the beetle, that acts as the carrier of a fungus that infects and kills trees, has also evolved over time.

“They used to feed on dead or decaying wood, now they have evolved to feed on live wood. Every year pest control becomes more challenging as a result of mutation. We cannot wave a magic wand and wish pests away.”

What is important, according to Blesovsky, is to keep learning about these pests and keep up to date with what they are doing.

“We are never going eliminate polyphagous, as is the story with basically all insects – we will just learn to control it. Already we know there are different species of polyphagous and some are not as harmful. We are not fighting a losing battle. The people who can make a difference are working on it.”

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