2024-01-14 17:54:01
This week, the discovery of a strange insect with antennae in a home in Providencia caused a stir on social networks. It was a eucalyptus borer or eucalyptus, which, although it had gone unnoticed, has already been inhabiting our country for several decades.
According to a report from the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of Chile dating back to 2003, the species – also known as Phoracantha semipunctata – entered the country in 1973, probably in packaging wood.
Dr. Cristian Villagra Gil, professor at the UMCE Institute of Entomology, told BioBioChile that this insect lives inside the bark of eucalyptus trees and hence the name.
“It is a highly destructive invasive forest pest native to Australia and New Zealand that mainly damages, as its name indicates, eucalyptus trees,” he explained.
In fact, as described by the Friprodefo (Trust for the Administration of the Forestry Development Program of the State of Jalisco) of Mexico on its website, the Phoracantha semipunctata is a xylophagous beetle native to Australia, “which has been spreading to several countries.” due to the eucalyptus wood trade.”
“The larvae penetrate the interior of the bark from which they initially feed, and as they grow they move on to make galleries inside the wood,” they comment.
These larvae “bore the trunk and main branches, at first superficially, and then they enter the wood also drilling it, in all directions. By profoundly affecting the circulation of sap, the trees end up drying out.”
Is the eucalyptus borer dangerous?
Villgara said that the presence of the insect “has spread to more than 30 countries around the world, causing significant economic losses” and is classified as a pest.
However, it does not cause any harm to people or animals. Of course, as he already mentioned, it damages the trees.
For this reason, he recommended that “if they are found, it is good to do pruning management, such as reducing the crown of the tree and if it is too infested, it may be necessary to replace it.”
Friprodefo says that these effects “will depend on the type of wood they colonize: in the case of young trees, they are likely to die following the insect attack, while trees older than twelve years can survive a first attack.”
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