Polyphagus Shot Hole Borer

It’s ugly, it’s dangerous, and it’s not the least bit festive. Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) is feasting on trees in Southern California; “polyphagous” = eats everything. This is not good news.

It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of yet another one-two environmental pest/disease punch, but home gardeners and concerned citizen scientists can help:

• Before you set a match to that cozy fire burning on the holiday hearth make sure you’re using local firewood to limit the transport of potentially infected wood.
• Be observant of trees in the environment and monitor their health. This includes your personal landscape as well as street trees, and those in parks and wild spaces. Report concerns to the LA County Agricultural Commission at https://acwm.lacounty.gov/scripts/pestpdf.htm
• Practice good gardening practices to promote healthy, strong, resilient trees better able to withstand attack or recover quickly.

For more information:

Beetle Mania hits SoCal trees

Southern California New Oak Threats Workshop

January 12th, 2013, 8:30-2:00 at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens. 

This hands on workshop will provide interested homeowners the opportunity to examine and learn to identify a variety of common and not so common insects and diseases that might be problems for the oak trees in their yards. Mingle with professional arborists and pest control applicators to learn the best ways to avoid, treat, or repair tree damage.  Become a Citizen Scientist and contribute to the regional monitoring network that will help document and perhaps prevent spread of new insect threats.