WA’s capital enforces new rules to fight destructive borer beatles [Video]

These tiny beetles are the size of sesame seeds.

But the damage they can do is astronomical – and can cost billions of dollars.

Perth’s drawn-out battle against an infestation of invasive borer beetles, also known as Polyphagus shot-hole borers, has now reached new heights.

The city has been fighting to stop borers from wreaking havoc in parks and gardens and it’s prompted a strict set of rules for dozens of suburbs in a bid to expand the quarantine zone.

From midnight on Friday, Perth’s quarantine area will expand into two more zones.

The new buffer zone will encompass the LGAs of Mundaring, Armadale, Serpentine-Jarrahdale, Kwinana and Rockingham.

Fresh restrictions mean residents can’t move untreated wood outside the area unless they are smaller than 2.5cm.

Transporting living plants bigger than 2cm in size is also banned – unless they’re being moved to a location in the quarantine zone.

Machinery …