Killer beetles in the baobabs: researcher warns of risk to African trees

A beetle that lays eggs inside the bark of trees has killed six baobab trees in Oman for the first time. Urgent measures are needed to stop it spreading to Africa.

By: Sarah Venter, University of the Witwatersrand, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 25, 2026

Words: 1,154

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 1 day ago

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By Sarah Venter, University of the Witwatersrand

Baobabs aren’t supposed to fall. They can live for up to 2,500 years. Famous for their resilience, these huge trees have stood tall across Africa, weathering droughts and winds that flatten everything else.

A small population of 102 baobabs is also found in Oman on the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, where baobabs were introduced over 1,500 years ago by traders from Africa.

However, several …

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