Identifying Polyphagous and Kuroshio Shot-Hole Borer in California

Abstract

The Invasive Shot-Hole Borer is a new, rapidly spreading, invasive pest threatening landscape trees and commercial avocado groves. The beetle is a vector for the plant disease fusarium dieback. First detected in the Los Angeles basin in 2012, it has quickly spread as far north as San Luis Obispo. Currently there are no control measures for the disease. While the current economic impact to crops is focused on avocados, computer models suggest almond to be a potential host. This publication explains the life cycle, biology and identification, look-alike pests, signs and symptoms of infestation and damage, reproductive hosts, and landscape and agricultural host species.