Welcome to the European House Borer video
An educational video aimed at increasing EHB awareness
And managing the threat currently being posed to Australia Primarily Western Australia
European House Borer - Also called EHB
Is a destructive pest of dry softwood timber Including pine, fir and spruce
Since 2004, EHB infestations in Western Australia
Have mainly been found in dead parts of live pine trees And manufactured pine wood materials
However, in early 2009 a significant EHB infestation
Was found in the structural timbers of a Perth home
The European House Borer presents a unique challenge to Australia
If left unchecked EHB can cause major structural damage
To untreated pine wood roof structures And can impact on industry
With this in mind all Western Australians Must play a greater role in ongoing surveillance
And control of this serious pest
This video offers strategies to achieve this goal
European House Borer is a beetle
Adult EHB beetles are brownish-black to black With a slightly flattened appearance
And have antennae about half as long as their body
Females are usually the size of a 20 cent piece And males are generally smaller
The beetles may have distinctive white patches on their back
On the top surface of the first body segment behind the head
Are two raised black shiny knobs like eyes
The damage is done by EHB larvae that hatch from eggs And tunnel through timber or wood
The eggs are laid in cracks, holes and Joints in dead pine trees
Dead branches or other dead parts of Living pine trees and untreated pine timber
EHB can live in its larval state for up to 12 years
Usually without any signs of infestation
In Western Australia research has shown That the larvae are more likely to live in timber
Between 2 and 5 years
Once a larva has matured It will emerge from the timber as a beetle
To begin the life cycle again
By re-infesting the same piece of wood
Larvae will keep feeding until The point of structural collapse
Infestation to collapse may take 15 to 25 years
This footage was shot following an EHB incursion In Victoria in the 1950s
After they've hatched the grubs start chewing into the wood
The transverse body pulls Aids their movement in the tunnels
And their strong jaws eat out The oval shaped burrows or galleries as they're called
These galleries are packed with frass The undigested powdery material
Which is a familiar sign of the presence of a wood borer
The grubs live in these galleries For anything between 3 and 11 years
Following the grain of the wood Yet never quite breaking the surface
For they avoid light And will always turn away from it
And so because it leaves no sign of its presence
The European House Borer is probably The most difficult of all wood borers to detect
As it nears the later stages of its development The grub forms a pupal chamber in one of the galleries
Here it will undergo the transformation From the larval to the adult stage
This gradual transformation from the early pupal stage
Through the various phases of development To the final adult form takes about 3 weeks
When the adult beetle first emerges Its outer covering is a light creamy colour
But this quickly changes to a dark brown-black
And then it burrows its way out along A previously sealed tunnel
Finally, it leaves the wood through An oval-shaped opening nearly half an inch across
This is the only time the European House Borer Leaves a mark on the surface of the wood
Which might betray its presence
But then, of course, it's too late The damage is done
EHB was first discovered in Europe Hence the name European House Borer
The pest has since been found in the Middle East, Africa, South America, United States, China and Asia Minor
There had been an incursion of EHB in Australia's eastern states in the 1950s
But this was eradicated with a concerted Government effort over 10 years
It is likely that EHB also made its way into Western Australia At this time through the import of pine wood kit homes
Subsequently on the 19th of January 2004 A single female EHB was found emerging from a beam in a house
In the Perth suburb of Parkerville
As at September 2010 EHB was confirmed At 178 sites across 50 suburbs
This includes 11 plantations and 167 urban pines
EHB infestations have been confined To the Greater Perth Metropolitan area
Mainly in Gnangara, the Hills and Serpentine areas
There has also been one confirmed find near Albany Which was the result of transportation of EHB-infested pine timber
A nationally funded EHB response program Commenced in Western Australia in 2004
To determine the extent of the infestation With the goal of eradicating the pest from the state
An important object of the program Was to find every EHB infestation
Which involved travelling every road in Western Australia From Geraldton to Esperance each year
To inspect pine trees and dead pine wood
Regular door-knock surveys were undertaken In all EHB affected areas
And 200 roofs in Ellenbrook were inspected bi-annually
As a part of the eradication program Pine trees were removed in EHB affected areas
And manufactured pine wood articles Treated or destroyed
By the end of 2010, 137 of the 178 confirmed sites Had been cleared of the infested pine wood
And 50 of the 117 surrounding areas Were cleared of all post material
The EHB response program reduced EHB populations within affected areas
And helped contain the pest to the Perth Metropolitan Area
As a part of the EHB response program
Research was undertaken into The life cycle, behaviour and identification of EHB
The research team developed the world's first DNA profiling methods for EHB
And helped to map the spread of EHB populations around the Perth Metropolitan Area
Additionally, 6 model research houses Were built to test whether EHB
Can lay eggs and survive In the hot summer conditions of Perth roofs
These trials provided important information On how EHB infestations develop in roof timbers
And how to find and treat infestations
In a purpose-built laboratory at South Perth Borer mating and reproduction cycles were also studied
Measurements were taken and Samples of infested pine wood were dissected
By knowing where EHB is, How likely it is to spread and how to detect it
It is hopeful that future management strategies Will reduce spread and infestation
It can be difficult to detect EHB as larvae can bore inside wood For many years without any external evidence
It is only when the adult beetle emerges from the wood That oval-shaped holes known as exit holes are formed
Despite the difficulty of detection some signs maybe seen
Exit holes are oval shaped about 5mm in length And run in line with the grain
A mixture of fine powdery particles of Wood dust and droppings known as Frass
Can sometimes be found close to where beetles have emerged
Blister like swellings under the surface may be evident
When boring larvae has eaten through tunnels And packed them with frass
Soft clicking sounds may be heard As the borer eats through the timber
Tunnels or galleries created by the larvae Can be if the timber has been planed, sawn or split
These tunnels can affect the structural integrity of the wood
Galleries rarely break through the timber surface And therefore seldom detected
EHB Beetles only emerge, fly and mate Between September and May known as the Flight Season
Remember, EHB does not infest hard woods And will only infest dead, dry or seasoned pine wood like spruce and firs
Some of the longest distance spread of EHB Has been the result of people moving infested pine wood
While natural movement has accounted for slower spread
DNA testing shows that original EHB population May have migrated from the Hills region to Gnangara
Maybe from EHB beetles carried on Easterly and South Easterly winds in Perth summers
It is also possible that EHB beetles have hitch-hiked on vehicles Transporting pine wood material
Out of or through affected areas
This map shows the spread of EHB throughout The Perth Metropolitan Areas as at September 2010
And the RMZ areas that were created around infestations To contain further spread of EHB
Detailed high resolution digital maps of each zone Can be viewed on the EHB website
That's www.ehb.wa.gov.au
Regulations were introduced in 2006 to restrict The movement of pine wood from EHB affected areas
And prevent the human assisted spread of EHB
In addition to movement restrictions EHB regulations provide for restrictions
On storage, treatment and disposal methods for Untreated seasoned pine wood located in affected areas
Known as Restricted Movement Zones or RMZs
Pine timber exposed in areas where EHB is Known to occur must be considered potentially infested
And appropriate precautions must be undertaken To prevent further EHB spread beyond the RMZ
Industries involved in the use of Untreated pine products such as pallets and furniture
Must comply with these regulations or face penalty Of up to $2000
Interstate regulations currently being drafted will also Affect the movement of pine wood out of Western Australia in the future
Residents and businesses should contact The EHB Hotline on 1800 084 881
For further guidance on movement, storage Treatment and disposal arrangements
From 2000, untreated pine timber became
A popular building material particularly for roof-framing Which has put new homes at risk
In response the WA Building Commission Issued an advisory note in 2009
Which mandated the use of EHB non-susceptible Building materials in EHB affected areas to prevent future infestation
The note advised that where pine was used As a primary building element in a Restricted Movement Zone
It may be suitable for hazard levels H2 or higher In the case of weather exposed pine wood
This directive has resulted in The increased demand for treated timber
A WA timber mill incorporating new inline spray technology
For H2 treatment has been established to increase The volume and affordability of treated pine wood
Untreated pine is processed at the saw mill To produce various sizes of construction timber
With the envelope H2 process incorporated Into the plant production line
H3 or higher treated pine wood using LOSP vacuum pressure treatment Is also available at the facilities in Western Australia
Seasoned pine wood is placed within a vacuum chamber And the process provides for full chemical penetration of the timber
The challenge in 2011 will be to Marry the needs of industry
With the need to prevent EHB spread and infestation
Without containment of the pest industry will have To face increased restrictions
Regarding building materials and movement of pine wood
With this in mind, strategies have been made available To industry to assist with EHB management
Untreated pine wood in transit must be Stored in a suitable building, enclosure or
Where impractical, wrapped in plastic
Untreated pine exposed to the environment In an RMZ for 72 hours or more
Must be considered potentially EHB infested
Waste pine wood must be chipped, burnt or disposed At local government waste recycle
Or landfill facilities to prevent further EHB spread
Business should contact call centre hotline On 1800 084 881 for guidance
To meet movement restrictions of Untreated pine out of RMZs
Business located in an area where EHB is known to occur Should inform sub-contractors and suppliers
To use treated pine or other non-susceptible materials
Business can assist with correct handling of untreated pine wood
Businesses are encouraged to develop EHB risk management plans
If the use of untreated pine wood Forms part of the business activity cycle
EHB is a threat to Western Australian homes With untreated pine roof structures
While adult beetles generally do not travel Until food sources have been exhausted
The locations of EHB infestations have indicated That EHB can fly a distance of 1 to 2 km
Which in some suburbs is about the distance Between homes and infested trees
In South Africa, about 90% of house roofs Adjacent to infested plantations became infested
Which resulted in large-scale roof damage
The good news is that in Western Australia serious damage is unlikely
As most untreated pine wood roof structures Are less than 15 years old
Although to avoid serious infestation in the future It is imperative that efforts be made to detect EHB
According to a Building Commission of Western Australia's directive in 2009
New homes or renovations undertaken in EHB affected areas must use materials that are not susceptible to EHB
Home owners should make sure their builders Are complying with this directive
And request the use of treated pine wood Or other non-susceptible materials
In homes already built with untreated pine timbers Damage can be avoided through early detection
With regular inspection by EHB-accredited pest controllers
Training for pest controllers has been updated in 2011 To improve detection capacity
And in the future to increase the number Of inspectors available
There are also other strategies the community can use To prevent infestation and to stop the spread of EHB
Members of the public should not collect pine wood materials From verge side collections or building sites
Or firewood from pine plantations
Any unwanted pine wood should be disposed of Through local government waste disposal services
Or local government refuse facilities
Ensure that pine wood you want to keep Is treated or suitably stored to prevent exposure to EHB
Pine wood exposed to the environment in EHB affected areas Can lead to subsequent infestation of your home
Regularly inspect any pine trees on your property And clear away dead branches
As the EHB response program transitioned From eradication to containment in 2011
There will be an increased risk of EHB spread To non-infested areas
Information on the management tools available Will play an important role on reducing this risk
Advice will be made available for exhibitions and displays
Road signs, print materials, the EHB website
Advertising, briefings and personal contact With EHB response team members
As a first step any suspected finds should be Reported to the EHB Hotline on 1800 084 881
You can also visit the EHB website To learn about EHB
And potential signs of infestation and The management strategies available