Borer Beetles: Advice for Owners & Trustees

Borer Beetle Basics - A Billion Rand Bad Situation

The Borer Beetle situation is more dire than many realise. Recent reports and estimates suggest borer beetles could cost South African municipalities R275 billion. The economic consequences of borer beetle infestations could be far worse when private property is factored into the equation. Otherwise known as Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer, PSHB, or Coleoptera Curculionidae, these bothersome bugs could be the bane of property owners all over the country. 

How Do You Know If You Have Borer Beetles?

"Signs property owners can look for is a round 1mm wide entry hole to the tunnels of the beetles. Usually a dark, wet staining, thick gumming and or white powder / fine sawdust comes from the hole. However, symptoms for each tree species are unique." This from Tobie Hannekom, Horticulturist at Faircape Life villages Bridgewater Manor, Heritage Manor and Onrus Manor.

According to Mr Hannekom there are a few indigenous South African trees which are vulnerable to borer beetles. These include: 

• Acacia (Acacia spp.)
• Bush willow (Combretum spp.)
• Yellowwood (Afrocarpus/Podocarpus spp.)
• Wild plum (Harpephyllum caffrum)
• Tree fuchsia (Halleria lucida)
• Cape willow (Salix mucronata)
• Cape chestnut (Calodendrum capense)
• Fountain bush (Psoralea pinnata)
• Sweet pea bush (Podalyria calyptrata)
• Forest elder (Nuxia floribunda)
• Cross berry (Grewia occidentalis)
• Keurboom or blossom tree (Virgilia divaricata)
• Coral tree (Erythrina spp.)

What Can Body Corporates & HOAs Do?

Jonty Adams, Senior Operations Manager at FMS Property Managers, recommends that if trustees or owners are concerned about borer beetles on common property they should contact professional compliance inspection companies to assess. This will help to ensure that if borer beetles are present, that they can be dealt with comprehensively. When it comes to borer beetles in private units, this should still be dealt with as a collective effort. That means, owners with borer beetle infestations should notify their managing agent so that the entirety of the block can be maintained. However, it's still important to remember that if the beetle infestation is present in your unit, then it is your responsibility to pay for pest control.

Borer Beetles & the Property Practitioners Act

"Thanks to the Property Practitioners Act (PPA), it's now mandatory for Offer To Purchase (OTP) documents to include a declaration of defects in the form of an immovable property condition report," says Sam Whitehead, Full Status Sales & Rental Agent and Head of FMS Sales & Leasing. That being said, OTPs always include a clause which deals with a Beetle Certificate but this is not mandatory. Should you be interested in a property with wooden components such as ceiling beams, wooden flooring, or kitchen cabinetry it can be well worth requesting this certificate be made available.

How To Prevent Borer Beetles

According to research published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, wood used in braais, cast iron stoves, and fireplaces is a way in which borer beetles can spread. Since the beetles themselves can only travel short distances up to 2 kms, it's advised that storing the wood on your premises for extended periods is avoided and that wood is purchased, transported and burned as needed. 

Another way to prevent the spread of these property pests is to practise proper soil & garden culturing. Mr Hanekom recommends:

• Support soil health and diversity to stimulate resilience and immunity
• Support soil nutrition with natural fertiliser and supplements
• Regularly inspect trees for borer holes
• Irrigation regimes
• Cutting tool to be sharp and clean
• Don't move infected material around trees
• Plant selection: cultivate more resilient plants
• Avoid monocultures: distribute trees susceptible between those less affected