EUROPEAN HOUSE BORER

Homeowners

EHB was discovered in Perth in 2004. Untreated pinewood has been a popular choice for roof framing in Western Australia since 2000.

While EHB has been found mainly in the dead parts of live pine trees and untreated pinewood materials, there has been one discovery of EHB in the untreated pine timbers of a residential home. The infestation was due to EHB spread from nearby infested pine trees.

Buildings and houses with untreated pine roof structures, such as those in the newer suburbs of Perth, will stand a high risk of infestation without steps to prevent further EHB spread.

The Western Australian Government has introduced strategies to prevent further infestation, and in described RMZ areas, restrictions under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection (European House Borer) Regulations 2006 apply.

Additionally, as the EHB Response Program moves to containment in 2011, recommended management strategies will be increasingly important.

The effectiveness of these restrictions and guidelines relies heavily on the support of residents and the building industry. Only through compliance and early action can homeowners reduce EHB spread and infestation risk, and minimise damage should infestation occur.

Recommended guidelines

Ensure any home built with untreated pinewood is regularly inspected by an EHB accredited pest controller. A list of accredited inspectors can be found on the Department of Commerce website.
When building, use treated pine or other non-susceptible materials (as per Building Commission Advisory Notes 2009/002 and 2009/004). Contact the Building Commission on 1300 489 099 for more information.
Avoid movement of untreated pinewood, particularly waste material such as off-cuts, tree branches, firewood and material from verge side collections.
Dispose of any waste pinewood in your municipal green rubbish bin or refuse facility.
Do not leave untreated pinewood materials exposed to the environment for more than 72 hours.
Securely store any pinewood materials you want to keep.
Do not use pinewood materials that have not been properly stored or treated.
Know what to look for. Click here for EHB descriptions.
Report any suspected infestations or sightings to the EHB hotline on 1800 084 881.