Balancing Biosecurity: Lessons from the Shot‑Hole Borer Outbreak

The shot‑hole borer, a 1‑2 mm beetle that bores into soft‑wood trees, was first detected in Western Australia in 2021, when it was found in an avocado orchard in Carabooda in December, according to ABC News (Grace Burmas).

The beetle has already killed several trees in Perth’s Hyde Park, prompting authorities to establish a quarantine zone around the metropolitan area as part of a national response.

Researchers at Murdoch University are the only team in the country that keep a laboratory colony of the pest. Led by Dr Wei Xu, they are testing different wood sawdust and chemicals to identify attractants and repellents that could be used in traps.

At the same time, biosecurity staff are heavily occupied with the H5N1 bird‑flu outbreak. Invasive Species Council policy director Carol Booth warned that the crisis is pulling resources away from the beetle, creating an opportunity for the pest to spread.

Despite those concerns, a government spokesperson said that Western Australia’s response to the polyphagous shot‑hole borer – including quarantine controls, surveillance, regulation, training and capacity‑building – has not changed because of the bird‑flu response.

The situation shows that limited biosecurity resources can leave one threat under‑monitored while another dominates the agenda. Early detection, dedicated research and a balanced allocation of staff are essential to keep invasive pests like the shot‑hole borer in check.

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