May 4, 2015
Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer can go to over 100 and counting hosts, but the Fusarium that the ambrosia beetle carries can not reproduce on all tree species. It is this fungus that ultimately kills the tree. There are now though thirty-seven hosts on which the beetle will attack and the Fusarium will grow. Here is the current list, 14 of which are California natives:
Known Suitable Reproductive Host Trees:
3. Evergreen Maple (Acer paxii)
4. Trident maple (Acer buergerianum)
5 Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
6. Castor bean (Ricinus communis)
8. Mexizan sycamore (Platanus mexicana)
10. Avocado (Persea americana)
11. Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)
12. English Oak (Quercus robur)
15.Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)*
16. Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa)*
17. White Alder (Alnus rhambifolia)*
18.Titoki (Alectryon excelsus)
20. Cork Oak (Quecus suber)
22. Coral tree (Erythrina corallodendon)
24. Palo verde (Parkinsonia aculeata)
25. Moreton Bay Chestnut (Castanospermum australe)
26. Brea (Cercidium sonorae)
27. Mesquite (Prosopis articulata)*
28. Weeping willow (Salix babylonica)
29. Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta)
30. Camelia (Camellia semiserrata)
31. Acacia (Acacia spp.)
32. Liquidambar (Liquidambar styraciflua)
33. Red Flowering Gum (Eucalyptus ficifolia)
34. Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
35. Goodding's black willow (Salix gooddingii)*
36. Tree of heaven (Alianthus altissima)
37. Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus)
*Native species to California
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