Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
Question by:
Hon Andricus van der Westhuizen
Answered by:
Hon Anton Bredell
Question Number:
7
Question Body:
- How effective are traps for polyphagous shot hole borer beetles (Euwallacea fornicatus) to determine the presence of such beetles in a particular area;
- whether his Department has or whether his Department or its entity, CapeNature, will be using such traps in order to monitor the presence and/or spread of polyphagous shot hole borer beetles in the Western Cape; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- to what extent is his Department or CapeNature cooperating with other research bodies and departments (such as the Department of Agriculture) regarding the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle;
- whether there is a map of the province indicating areas where the presence of the shot hole borer beetle has been recorded; if so, where can this map be obtained?
Answer Body:
- The effectiveness of setting traps to determine the presence of polyphagous shot hole borer beetles (PSHB) is being researched by Prof Francois Roets at Stellenbosch University in collaboration with the Forest and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) and several other universities.
- CapeNature is not currently considering the deployment of traps to monitor the presence or spread of PSHB on protected areas managed by the entity and will only consider the deployment of traps on CapeNature managed nature reserves, if supported by research findings.
CapeNature has implemented surveillance and mitigation protocols at reserves where the potential invasion of PSHB posing a risk to biodiversity has been identified.
- CapeNature collaborates with the Centre for Invasion Biology and Stellenbosch University, and with other entities and agencies via the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (i.e. Provincial Departments, South African National Parks, City of Cape Town).
- Yes, there is a map indicating areas where the presence of the PSHB has been recorded. This can be found on the FABI website - https://www.fabinet.up.ac.za/index.php/pshb
Date:
Friday, February 3, 2023
