PSHB BEETLE
THE PSHB BEETLE
The PSHB (Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer) Beetle has recently been identified in South Africa, and the consequences of having this little beetle in our country means devastation to our local landscapes, cities, towns and farms. Within the first year it has spread to countless regions all over the country, and also in other African states. The destruction to our beautiful trees can be of biblical proportions! Up till now the big problem has been the inability to reach both the beetle and the fusarium fungus at the depth that they penetrate into tree trunks and branches. With our unique ANODS delivery system we have overcome this problem and now proudly introduce a product range for this problem, which is a world first.
A. THE INVASIVE PSHB BEETLE AFFECTS TREES IN 3 MAJOR WAYS
1. Beetles. In an in-house experiment using a 55cm section of Box Elder branch some 3500 beetles were extracted through entrance or exit holes bored by the beetles. However, an examination of cross sections of infected timber clearly indicate that the majority of beetles commenced boring from the inside and continued boring random tunnels for the duration of their life cycles. In respect of these beetles, exit holes were clearly absent. It can therefore safely be assumed that the vast majority of beetles were active inside the tree and assuming that 75% of beetles worked inside the tree, a more realistic number of beetle mortality on the said trunk section would be around 14 000. (View clip and images below).
Dead Beetles discharged around tree trunk
Beetles dying 4cm inside the tree trunk
Beetles dying 10cm inside the tree trunk
Beetle count after DAY 1 - 1304
Beetle count after DAY 2 - 691
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2. Fungi. As beetles bore their tunnels, they leave behind trace elements of fungi (mainly Fusarium). The fungi are mainly found in the sapwood or Xylem section of the trunk. The xylem comprises the youngest layers of wood. Its network of thick-walled cells brings water and nutrients up from the roots through tubes inside of the trunk to the leaves and other parts of the tree. As the tree grows, xylem cells in the central portion of the tree become inactive and die. These dead xylem cells form the tree’s heartwood.
3. Fungal Spread. The Fusarium does not limit its growth to breeding spots, but continue to spread throughout the sapwood section and eventually blocks all transport of nutrients and water to the upper tree sections and the consequent result is that the tree will die. A much wider level of Fusarium eradication is essential.
B. THE PAN AFRICAN FARMS TECHNOLOGY
Thus far, researchers worldwide, and particularly in the USA could not find a suitable product or mechanism for the large-scale treatment of trees. The main reasons for their inability to find solutions are:
C. NANO TECHNOLOGY
Pan African Farms have developed a unique and novel technology, referred to as ANODS, which is an anagram for Amphiphilic Nano Oil Delivery System. This is similar in concept to liposomal technology, but also differs from it in significant ways, as will be indicated below. ANODS offer the following benefits:
PSHB SUPPLEMENTARY SURFACTANT mixed with Cypermethrin 2%
Commercial Cypermethrin 20%
Green coloured ANODS at a depth of 2,5cm
Green coloured ANODS at a depth of 10,7cm
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DEAD BEETLES DISCHARGED AROUND TREE TRUNK
Beetles dying 4cm inside the tree trunk
Beetles dying 10cm inside the tree trunk
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Fusarium treated with PSHB FUNGICIDAL after 8min
Fusarium treated with PSHB FUNGICIDAL after 10min (note changes in colour)
Fusarium treated with PSHB FUNGICIDAL after 100min (note less Fusarium)
Fusarium treated with PSHB FUNGICIDAL after 105min (note cell wall perforation) Zoomed in
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