The entire Perth metropolitan area will be subject to quarantine restrictions from Friday to help stop the spread of the destructive polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB).

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development chief plant biosecurity officer Dr Vincent Lanoiselet spoke to 6PR Afternoons host Julie-Anne Sprague and said under quarantine, untreated wood and living plants cannot be moved outside of the Perth metropolitan area.

“We’ve already detected a dozen of trees infested with PSHB right on the edges of the quarantine area which indicates we’ve been dealing with a couple of escapees,” Dr Lanoiselet said.

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