The importation into Queensland of untreated wood from parts of Western Australia has been temporarily banned due to the presence of a destructive pest beetle. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries issued two pest alerts to growers on Tuesday.
The first is a movement control notice linked to Euwallacea fornicatus (polyphagous shot-hole borer). This pest beetle has been detected recently in 21 Council areas in Western Australia. As a result, bans have been applied on the movement of wood, living plants, and wood machinery into Queensland from quarantined areas in WA.
DAF regards the beetles as a high-risk quarantine pest that has a high potential for establishment and spread in Queensland. They have a demonstrated ability to cause serious economic and ecological damage. Eradicating them from the State would be costly and challenging.
The second pest alert relates to a root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii (guava root-knot nematode), which has been detected in the Northern Territory. It has not previously been recorded in Australia. DAF considers the nematode to be a significant threat to horticultural industries.
Read the complete article at www.southburnett.com.au.