EUROPEAN HOUSE BORER

What is being done?

EHB Response Program 2004-2010

Following the detection of European House Borer in January 2004, rapid action was taken to determine the extent of the pest and how to tackle the infestation. This included an assessment of 1200 sites throughout greater metropolitan Perth and the South-West.

The surveillance resulted in no positive finds in regional areas, including the main softwood plantations in the South-West. Although, EHB was found on 27 properties throughout 10 Perth suburbs.

The Government of Western Australia initiated an Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan, which focused on surveillance and containment of the pest, while cost benefit analyses and regulatory impact assessments were conducted.

Industry consultations and a local awareness campaign also commenced.

An EHB Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan (EHB EPPRP) outlining a $9.4 million containment and surveillance phase during 2007 and 2008, with a view to eradication, was approved by the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) in November 2006.

Based on a technical feasibility study of successful eradication undertaken by the EHB Scientific Advisory Panel (EHB SAP), further funding was approved until June 2009, and then again until June 2010.

The following activities formed part of the ongoing EHB Response Program between 2004 and 2010:

• Door-knock surveys.
  
  
• Assessing dead pine wood.
  
  
• Bi-annual targeted inspections of 200 roofs in Ellenbrook.
  
  
• The removal of all host material from infested areas, including live pine trees.
  
  
• Placement of trap poles to measure the existing population density, and identify areas of concentrated pest activity.
  
  
• Training of two detector dogs to target EHB within pinewood.
  
  
• Extensive research, including:
  
  
• The development of acoustic listening technology;
  
  
• The maintenance of an EHB colony to gather information about the pest;
  
  
• Research houses to assess the survival of EHB in Perth’s hot summer roof temperatures;
  
  
• Development of a DNA test for EHB using the frass produced by wood boring larvae.
  
  

To support EHB surveillance, containment and eradication efforts, the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection (European House Borer) Regulations 2006 were gazetted in 2006 to establish buffer zones around sites of EHB infestation. These were called Priority Management Zones (PMZ) and Restricted Movement Zones (RMZ).

The regulations outlined restrictions on the movement, storage, treatment and disposal of untreated pinewood located in PMZ and RMZ areas.

At the conclusion of eradication in 2010, 137 of the178 confirmed sites have been cleared of the infested material, and 50 of the 117 surrounding PMZ areas have been cleared of all host material (including live pine trees).

Future-2011 and beyond

A transition from EHB eradication to management will take place throughout 2011. The EHB eradication efforts undertaken over the past six years will ensure effective EHB management and control in the future.

The transition in effect means there will be no further removal of live pine trees. With the spread of EHB into northern pine plantations, it was concluded it would no longer be practically feasible to remove the number of infested trees required to achieve eradication.

In the future, a greater focus on EHB self-management will be vital to containment. Overall, industry and the community will need to play a significant role in ongoing surveillance, management and control, similar to termites and other pest management.

Over the next 12 months, the EHB Response Program will focus on:

• State-wide communication activities to ensure awareness.
  
  
• Emphasis on management strategies to support the community in reducing EHB spread and infestation.
  
  
• Extension of current EHB training for pest controllers, to ensure inspectors will be a valuable source of information and assistance for home owners concerned about EHB infestation.
  
  
• Education of building industry and homeowners on the need to use EHB non-susceptible materials, such as treated pinewood, in all construction.
  
  
• Continued work with the Domestic Quarantine and Market Access Working Group (DQMAWG) to develop protocols for the future movement of EHB host material from Western Australia (to contain EHB).
  
  
• Development of a national communication strategy for the likelihood of EHB discovery in other States, and the future need for education and awareness.
  
  
• Negotiations with local governments to seek their continued involvement in EHB education and other related issues.
  
  

There will also be consultation with other key stakeholders, such as the housing and timber industries, to discuss effective management strategies to deal with EHB in the future.