SANTA CRUZ — After infested trees were recently discovered near the Tannery Arts Center, the city of Santa Cruz is asking community members to watch out for signs of an invasive beetle that has the potential to damage or kill a variety of trees.
According to a statement from the city, “the Santa Cruz County Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the University of California Cooperative Extension, has confirmed the presence of the invasive shothole borer beetle in trees located in the Tannery area of the city of Santa Cruz. Arborists identified two affected trees, prompting local agencies to call on the public’s help in early detection and prevention of further spread.”
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The tiny nonnative shothole borer is about the size of a sesame seed and tunnels into its tree host, where it introduces a fungus called Fusarium. The fungus subsequently causes the tree to develop a disease called Fusarium dieback, which has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of trees in the state and poses a threat to the integrity of forests, according to the University of California.
The invasive beetles do not eat wood, but create channels in host trees where they farm a symbiotic fungus that serves as their food. At-risk trees include the box elder, California sycamore, valley oak, Japanese maple and American sweet gum. The beetles range in size from about one-eighth inch to one-sixth inch and range from brown to black in color.
Because the shothole borers spend most of their lives living inside of the host tree, the best indicator that a tree is infested is the presence of round holes, about the size of a ballpoint pen tip. The abdomen of beetles can sometimes be spotted protruding from the holes, which may be covered by sap or frass, which is the sawdust left behind by boring. Other symptoms include wet staining, gumming and a sugary buildup around the holes.
According to a statement from the city, a heavily infested tree was recently found in Paradise Park, upriver from the Tannery, “with hundreds of entry holes — clear evidence that more beetles are present and spreading. Local officials want residents to be aware and vigilant in spotting early signs.”
To determine whether a tree is showing symptoms, complete the Invasive Shot-hole Borers Assessment at ucanr.edu.
Last October, the beetles were spotted along a section of Zayante Creek, south of Graham Hill Road, after tree damage was spotted by a Felton resident while hiking in the area.
To report suspected infestations, the city asks property owners to call the Santa Cruz County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office at 831-763-8080 or email Brian Woodward with the UC Cooperative Extension, Santa Cruz Mountains Forests Program at [email protected].
Magnified photo of an adult female invasive shothole borer beetle (Courtesy of John Kabashima/UC Cooperative Extension)