What are the Polyphagous and Kuroshio Shot Hole Borers?

Infested tree, infested trunk, adult beetles in galleries

The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB) is an invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks dozens of tree species in Southern California, including commercial avocado groves, common landscape trees, and native species in urban and wildland environments.

PSHB spreads a disease called Fusarium Dieback (FD), which is caused by pathogenic fungi. Trees that are FD-susceptible may experience branch dieback, canopy loss, and, in some cases, tree mortality.

Like PSHB, Kuroshio Shot Hole Borer (KSHB) is an exotic Euwallacea species that also vectors Fusarium Dieback. Both beetles are present in Southern California but are concentrated in different regions. See their known distribution here.

PSHB News

PSHB in the News Again

Invasive shot hole borers are in the news again. Our collaborator, Greg McPherson with the US Forest Service, has just released a new estimate of the potential damage polyphagous and Kuroshio shot hole borers may cause as the spread across the...

Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at 1:33 PM

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Author: Sabrina L. Drill

www.pshb.org was made possible by support from the US Forest Service Forest Health Protection Program, UC Riverside, Orange County Parks, the California Avocado Commission, and the work and in-kind support of federal, state, and local partners.