Tiny fungus farming beetle from WA could wreak havoc on Sydney’s heritage trees

<p>Invasive shot-hole borer only found in Perth in Australia, but as WA moves from eradication to management of pest, risk of spread is ‘heightened’</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jul/08/anthony-albanese-tariffs-trump-east-melbourne-synagogue-bobdi-junction-nine-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The chief scientist of the Botanic Gardens of Sydney is warning of an imminent and deadly risk to the city’s trees posed by an invasive beetle that has led to the removal of thousands of trees in Perth.</p><p>The tiny polyphagous shot-hole borer, which is native to south-east Asia, is a “fungus farmer” that burrows into trees and can spread a fungus that kills the host tree.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/08/polyphagous-shot-hole-borer-invasive-beetle-wa-perth-sydney-nsw-warning">Continue reading...</a>