The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) and its fungal symbiont Fusarium euwallaceae: a new invasion in South Africa

Abstract

The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB), an ambrosia beetle (Coleoptera: Curculeonidae: Scolytinae) native to Asia, together with its fungal symbiont Fusarium euwallaceae, has emerged as an important invasive pest killing avocado and other trees in Israel and the United States. The PSHB is one of three cryptic species in the Euwallacea fornicatus species complex, the taxonomy of which remains to be resolved. The surge in the global spread of invasive forest pests such as the PSHB has led to the development of programmes utilising sentinel tree plantings to record new host-pest interactions. During routine surveys of tree health in botanical gardens of South Africa undertaken as part of a sentinel project, an ambrosia beetle/fungal associate was detected damaging Platanus x acerifolia (London Plane) in the KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Gardens, Pietermaritzburg. Identification of the beetle by sequencing part of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (COI) gene confirmed its identity as PSHB, and specifically one of the invasive haplotypes of the beetle. The associated fungus F. euwallaceae was identified based on phylogenetic analysis of elongation factor (EF 1α) sequences. Koch's postulates have confirmed the pathogenicity of fungal isolates to P. x acerifolia. This is the first report of PSHB and its fungal symbiont causing Fusarium dieback in South Africa. This report also represents the first verified case of a damaging invasive forest pest detected in a sentinel planting project, highlighting the importance of such studies. Given the potential impact these species present to urban trees, native biodiversity and agriculture, both the PSHB and its fungal symbiont should be included in invasive species regulations in South Africa.

Biological Invasions in South Africa’s Urban Ecosystems: Patterns, Processes, Impacts, and Management

“…The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB), Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae; part (a) figure above) is probably the most damaging invasive alien pest to arrive and establish in South Africa's urban environments. It was first detected in the KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Gardens in Pietermaritzburg in 2017 (Paap et al 2018). An ambrosia beetle native to Southeast Asia, PSHB has a symbiotic relationship with three fungal species, including the pathogen Fusarium euwallaceae.…”

Temperature can limit the invasion range of the ambrosia beetle Euwallacea nr. fornicatus

“…The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) Euwallacea nr. fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Scolytinae) is an ambrosia beetle native to Southeast Asia (Stouthamer et al ., ) that has invaded southern California (Eskalen et al ., ), Israel (Mendel et al ., ) and South Africa (Paap et al ., ). As an ambrosia beetle, PSHB has formed a symbiotic relationship with the fungi Fusarium euwallaceae , Graphium euwallaceae and Paracremonium pembeum , which are transported within special invaginations referred to as mycangia (Lynch et al ., 2016).…”

Biological Invasions as a Component of South Africa’s Global Change Research Effort

“…29.4). The arrival in South Africa of new invaders, such as Euwallacea fornicatus (the Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer) (Paap et al 2018;Potgieter et al 2020;Box 11.3), which has the potential to decimate trees in urban, natural and agricultural habitats, are warnings that we should prepare for the unexpected. Our assessment of research effort to date raises some concerns, in that it appears that the research approach to date has been piecemeal.…”