cactus quarterly · 2020. 8. 12. · cactus quarterly latest news in this issue minister adam...
TRANSCRIPT
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CACTUS QUARTERLY Latest news Minister Adam Marshall checks out Hudson pear Once again the biocontrol Dactylopius
tomentosus (‘californica var. par-
keri’) commonly known as cochineal for
Hudson pear, Cylindropuntia pal-
lida was in the spotlight, as Lightning
Ridge had a visit from Minister Adam
Marshall on July 7, 2020.
In collaboration with Department of Pri-
mary Industries Senior Researcher An-
drew McConnachie, Walgett Shire Council Weed Officers Mat Sav-
age and Andrea Fletcher, North West Local Land Service Regional
Weed Officer Pete Dawson
and Northern Slopes Land-
care NW Cacti Control Coor-
dinator Jo Skewes, they
were given the opportunity to
show case their hard work in
developing a program that
delivers an effective on
ground biocontrol whilst
working with the community
and creating partnerships with local and state departments and or-
ganisations. A program that can be utilised as a benchmark for future
projects. To read more about the Ministers visit check out The Lands
article, ‘Hudson pear is cactus’ at https://www.northernslopeslandcare.co m.au/cacti/cactus-news.html
In This Issue
Latest News
• Minister Adam Marshall checks out Hudson
pear
• Identification of unknown cacti in the NW re-
gion
• Tiger pear cladode swap
• Biocontrol of Hudson pear using cochineal
Common prickly pear - O. stricta
Prickly Pear History
Tourism
• Help prevent the spread of cacti!
• Caravanning Australia - Spring 2020
NEW Cacti Resources
Events
Networks
Know your local Weeds Officer
Further Information
Funded through the NW Cacti Coordinator Program
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0402 014 769
NSW, North West Region Winter 2020
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 1
Identification of unknown cacti in the NW region Recently an unidentified cactus species was recorded from both the Gwydir Shire and Walgett Shire areas. It was initially thought to be Opuntia leucotricha, with this being confirmed by Dr. Bob Chinnock (a retired State Herbarium Botanist). Previously, Opuntia leucotricha was not known to be in the NW region.
The cactus found in the Gwydir Shire was originally thought to have been planted as part of the previous owners cactus garden. Fortunately, the current owners identi-fied the cactus garden as a potential risk and have been working towards removing it from the property. The specimen from the Walgett Shire seemed to have been planted along a fence line (and was spreading from the parent plant). Local weed officers will be treating the population in the near future.
If you have cacti of concern in your garden or on your property, contact
your local weed officer (see page 7) or call the Biosecurity Help Line on
1800 680 244 for assistance on identification and how to best control it.
Photo: Minister Adam Marshall
and Andrew McConnachie, DPI.
Photo (left to right): J. Skewes, M. Savage, P.
Dawson, A. Fletcher and A. McConnachie.
“Releasing the Hounds on Hudson pear” – a Community biological control management program. A collaboration between NSW Department of Primary Indus-tries, North West Local Land Services, Northern Slopes Landcare Association and Castlereagh Macquarie Weeds County Council is funded through the NSW Governments Office for Environment and Heritage.
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Tiger Pear Cladode Swap
Do you have tiger pear (Cylindropuntia aurantiaca)?
Tiger pear is extremely hardy, thriving in a range of habitats. This includes the slopes and nearby plains, where large
localised infestations still thrive. Segments break from established plants easily and are transported by water, stock
and car tyres.
Tiger pear is a spreading or climbing cactus rarely more than 40 cm high. The plant consists of numerous segments
up to 20cm long. Each segment has large spines up to 5 cm long. Flowers are yellow. Fruits are egg-shaped with a
depressed top. They are 2.5–3.5 cm long and are red to purple when ripe. Plants form seeds, however, the species
is a sterile hybrid and only spreads vegetatively by segments or fruit which root where they contact the ground.
How do I control it?
If you have an infestation of Tiger pear contact your local weed officer on how to best
control it. If you live in the Narrabri Shire or the Gwydir Shires, you can partake in a
cladode swap.
What is a cladode?
Opuntia spp. have succulent, jointed cladodes, which are also known as pads or stem
segments. Cladodes are generally flat, cylindrical or occasionally fan shaped and green
in colour.
What is a cladode swap?
A cladode swap is when you bring in clean (no soil or ants) fresh (recently collected),
undamaged (cleanly broken off) cladodes (segments) and the weed officer will swap you for cladodes infected with
Dactylopius austrinus, a cochineal species that specifically targets tiger pear. You can then release these infected
cladodes in tiger pear plants that are up wind of your core infestation. As a result, the wind will then disperse the
crawlers (juvenile cochineal) onto the surrounding plants. Make sure you securely place the cladodes in the plants by
using a pair of long handled tongs.
Who should I contact?
Narrabri Shire Council area Weed Officer Clare Felton-Taylor on 0427 294 771 or Chris Watkins on 0429 202 205
Gwydir Shire Council area Weed Officer Scott McLachlan on 0428 305 364 or Adrian Wood 0448 181 321
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 2
Photo: Tiger pear with cochineal,
Les Tanner.
Biocontrol of Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia pallida) using cochineal Dactylopius tomentosus
(californica var. parkeri)
Further releases of the biocontrol agent for Cylindropuntia pallida also known as
Hudson pear have been made. The Dactylopius tomentosus (californica var. par-
keri) commonly known as the Hudson pear cochineal is one of six lineages which
are being used to control the eight species of invasive Cylindropuntia in Australia.
An inter-agency collaboration between Department of Primary Industries, Walgett
Shire Council, North West Local Land Services and Northern Slopes Landcare,
has seen the creation of a program that delivers an effective on-ground biocontrol
solution. Another tool in the toolbox to help control the core infestations of Hudson
pear.
To find out more about how you can get your hands on the Hudson pear cochi-
neal contact Walgett Shire Weed Officer Mat Savage on 0427 253 463 or NW
Cacti Control Coordinator Jo Skewes on 0402 014 769.
“Releasing the Hounds on Hudson pear” – a Community biological control management program. A collaboration between NSW Department of Primary Industries, North West Local Land Services, Northern Slopes Landcare Association and Castlereagh Macquarie Weeds County Council is funded through the NSW Govern-ments Office for Environment and Heritage.
Photo: The mass-rearing facility at Light-
ning Ridge, Andrea Fletcher.
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Common prickly pear Opuntia stricta
Where did it come from and where is it now?
Common pest pear is native to the south eastern USA,
east coast of Mexico, northern South America, Cuba, Ba-
hamas and Bermuda. After introduction to Australia, the
plant invaded large areas of northern NSW and central
Queensland in the early 1900s. At the peak of its invasion
it occupied some 25,000,000 hectares.
Source: NSW WeedWise, 2020
What does it look like?
Sprawling/erect shrub, up to 2 m tall.
Forms thickets.
Cladodes
• Green to grey green
• Eliptic to obovate
• 10-25 cm long
Spines
O. stricta var. stricta
• Spineless
O. stricta var. dillenii
• Up to 11 per areole
• 1.5-4 cm long
Flowers
• Yellow
• 6 cm diameter
Fruit
• Fleshy, globular to pear shaped
• 6 cm long
• Purplish red
• Fertile seeds
Source: Field Identification Guide 2nd Edition
How does it spread?
Like most cactus species the cladodes can be dispersed
through human and animal movement, as well as vehi-
cles and other machinery. The fruit is consumed by both
native wild life and pest animals which then help disperse
the seeds. It has the ability to form impenetrable clumps
and reduce stock carrying capacity. Segments easily
break off and can spread to new sites via flood waters.
Source: NSW WeedWise and Field Identification Guide 2nd Edition
General Biosecurity Duty
All plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or mini-mised, so far as is reasonably practicable. All of NSW Prohibition on dealings Must not be imported into the State or sold North West Biosecurity Act requirements & Strategic Response in the region Mandatory Measure (Division 8, Clause 33, Biosecurity Regulation 2017): A person must not import into the State or sell. Source: North West Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan
Executive Summary
How do you control it?
Biocontrol
During the 1920s and 1930s various biological control
agents were released for its control. Now common pest
pear is largely controlled by cactoblastis, Cactoblastis
cactorum. In areas where cactoblastis cannot complete 2
generations per year, it can be controlled by the cochi-
neal, Dactylopius opuntiae.
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 3
Figure: O. stricta distribution, Atlas of Living Australia 2020.
Figure: O. stricta, NSW
WeedWise & NW Weeds
Cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Dactylopiidae
Genus: Dactylopius
Species: opuntiae
Cactoblastis Cactoblastis cactorum
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pyralidae
Genus: Cactoblastis
Species: cactorum
Photo: C.
cactorum,
R. Burr
(TRC).
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How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 4
Chemical Control - Common prickly pear
WARNING—Always read the label
Source: NSW Weed Control Handbook – A guide to weed control in non-crop, aquatic and bushland situation
Control Calendar
Source: NW Regional Weeds Officer Best Practises Guides
For information on how to control Opuntia stricta please search APVMA https://portal.apvma.gov.au/home to find the
correct permit and instructions for use.
Alternatively, please contact your local Weeds Officer for further advise on identification and control (see page 7 for
contact details).
Prickly Pear History
Newspaper Article
First Prickly Pear - Pot Plant at Scone In introducing the Prickly Pear Bill in the House on Wednesday even-
ing, Mr. Wearne referred to Scone as the headquarters of the pest. It
was from Scone that the prickly pear spread in pest proportions, and it
was from Scone that the plant was taken in pots to Bundarra and Keera
eighty years ago, as the nucleus from which the north-west has been
infested.
“It will, doubtless, interest your readers,” writes Mr. Robert J. C. Fergu-
son, “To know that the prickly pear was first brought the Scone in a pot
by Mrs. Mary Ann Sutton in the early forties (1840 to 1842). The old
lady told many of us who were boys in Scone in the ‘sixties and
‘seventies, that she was responsible for it in that way, and seemed to
glory in the knowledge that she did so. She then told me that a plant
was sent to Bundarra about 1843.” Article: Unknown
Source: North West Weeds, Prickly Pear History - http://
northwestweeds.com.au/images-library/image-library-prickly-pear-species/
prickly-pear-history-ppdc/prickly-pear-history/ (image left & right).
Historical photo shows
another of the early
(and rather drastic)
PRICKLY PEAR
TREATMENT methods
– fumes from a boiling
arsenate mixture drift-
ing across the pear
(circa 1919-20s – pho-
tographer unknown).
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Tourism
Help prevent the spread of cacti! People travel through the North West region of NSW each year with popular tourist desti-nations like Lightning Ridge, attracting approximately 80,000 tourists each year where in-vasive cacti are a serious problem. Uncontrolled, invasive cacti spread easily and rapidly through the landscape. They are hard to manage and degrade land.
Invasive cacti are known to attach to vehicles and then drop off kilometers from where they first attached. They are adaptable, grow anywhere and they will root in the unlikeliest of places not needing many resources to survive.
Invasive cacti have serious consequences and the potential to; injure people, livestock and pets; reduce land value; displace native flora; kill native fauna; make mustering diffi-cult; penetrate skin, shoes and tyres with their spines.
Invasive cacti are recognised for being drought tolerant. They are not native to Australia and can be highly invasive if not managed appropri-ately. If during your travels you see a unique looking cactus, avoid collecting it. The flowers or fruit could also lead to its establishment and spread.
Caravanning Australia - Spring 2020 edition (available in September) will have an edi-torial on the serious consequences of invasive cacti of the north-west region of NSW. It will also include the below ad-vertisement (below) on how we can work together to help prevent the spread of invasive cacti.
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 5
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Seen this plant?
Hudson pear Cylindropuntia pallida
Available at Northern Slopes Landcare website
Cacti → Resources
https://www.northernslopeslandcare.c
om.au/images/Cacti/CochinealBioc on-
trol_Hudsonpear_HIGHRes.pdf
Events
Available at Northern Slopes Landcare website
Cacti → Resources
https://www.northernslopeslandcare.c
om.au/images/Cacti/SeenThis_HudsonPe
ar_HIGHRes.pdf
NEW Cacti Resources
Biocontrol of Hudson pear
Using the Cochineal Dactylopius to-mentosus (californica var. parkeri)
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 6
Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator
Keep in touch with
the latest news,
events and funding
across the North
West - whether it’s
news on local farmer groups, available funding to im-
prove your farm business or field days and events hap-
pening in your local area, ‘Across the Paddock’ has you
covered. Subscribe now and email [email protected]
Across the Paddock is a bi-monthly newsletter brought to
you by your North West Regional Agriculture Landcare
Facilitators (NW RALF) and supported by Tamworth Re-
gional Landcare Association (TRLA) and Northern
Slopes Landcare Association (NSLA) through North
West Local Land Services (NW LLS) and the National
Landcare Program (NLP).
NSW Weed Biocontrol Taskforce
Check out the latest news from the NSW Weed Biocontrol Taskforce at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds/weed-control/biological
-control/nsw-weed-biocontrol-taskforce OR if you’re a weeds profession-
al in NSW, sign up to the Weeds Extranet provided by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW
DPI) at https://extranet.dpi.nsw.go v.au/weeds
Do you have Hudson pear on your property or mining claim? The new biocontrol mass-rearing facility at Lightning Ridge is stocked with the Hudson pear cochineal and they are ready to be released.
Contact Mat Savage on 0427 253 463 to collect your plastic tub (for collecting clean Hudson pear seg-ments - no ants or soil). Swap your tub of clean segments for a tub of cochineal-infected segments. Mat will advise you on how to release the cochineal and record the release data.
AQF3 Chemical Accreditation
Networks
Cochineal ready to be released
AQF3 Chemical Accredi-tation - BOOKED OUT! The last of the free courses to be run under this pro-gram are now BOOKED OUT!
If you would like to get onto the waiting list for either Lightning Ridge or Grawin please call Jo Skewes on 0402 014 769
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Gunnedah Shire Council
Senior Weeds Officer
Lee Amidy 0427 254 188
Neil Worboys 0436 950 781
63 Elgin Street Gunnedah NSW 2380
Phone 02 6740 2100
Postal Address
PO Box 63
Gunnedah NSW 2380
Email [email protected]
Gwydir Shire Council
Weeds Officer Warialda
Scott McLachlan 0428 305 364
Weeds Officer Bingara
Adrian Wood 0448 181 321
Postal Address
Locked Bag 5
Bingara NSW 2404
Email [email protected]
Bingara Office
33 Maitland Street
Bingara NSW 2404
Phone 02 6724 2000
Warialda Office
52 Hope Street
Warialda NSW 2402
Phone 02 6729 3000
Liverpool Plains Shire
Council
Authorised Officer - Weeds
Mike Whitney 0427 961 980
60 Station Street
Quirindi NSW 2343
Phone 02 6746 1755
Postal Address
PO Box 152
Quirindi NSW 2343
Email [email protected]
Moree Plains Shire Council
Senor Biosecurity Officer
Ian Schwartz 0427 044 521
Biosecurity Officer
Lachlan Biddle 0408 204 577
Moree Office
Level 2, Max Centre
30 Heber Street
Moree NSW 2400
Phone 02 6757 3222
Postal Address
PO Box 420
Moree NSW 2400
Email [email protected]
Narrabri Shire Council
Senior Authorised Officer - Weeds
Clare Felton-Taylor 0427 294 771
Authorised Officer - Weeds
Chris Watkins 0429 202 205
46-48 Maitland Street
Narrabri NSW 2390
Phone 02 6799 6866
Postal Address
PO Box 261
Narrabri NSW 2390
Email [email protected]
Tamworth Regional Council
Senior Weeds Officer
Mal Stein 0429 821 579
Weeds Officer
Robert Burr 0419 271 593
Ray Walsh House
437 Peel Street
Tamworth NSW 2340
Phone 02 6767 5555
Postal Address
PO Box 555
Tamworth NSW 2340
Email [email protected]
Walgett Shire Council
Castlereagh Macquarie County
Council
Senior Weeds Officer
Andrea Fletcher 0428 462 060
Weeds Officer
Mat Savage 0427 253 463
Weeds Officer
David Ryan 0401 835 563
77 Fox Street Walgett NSW 2832
Phone 02 6828 6100
Postal Address
PO Box 31
Walgett NSW 2832
E-mail [email protected]
NW Local Land Services
Moree Office 02 6750 9000
Warialda Office 02 6729 1529
Narrabri Office 1300 795 299
Tamworth Office 02 6764 5900
Walgett Office 02 6828 6400
Gunnedah Office 02 6742 9220
Goondiwindi Office 0428 432 784
Department of Primary Industries
Biosecurity Help Line 1800 680 244
North West Regional Weeds Officers If you find any suspicious weeds please call your local council so their response team can work with you on
identifying and controlling any State or Regional Priority Weeds you might find on your property.
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 7
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Websites
Atlas of Living Australia - https://www.ala.org.au/
Australian Invasive Cacti Network (AICN) - http://www.aicn.org.au/
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicinal Authority (APVMA) - https://portal.apvma.gov.au
Biological Control DPI - https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds/projects/biological-control
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) - https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/
DPI Weeds - https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds
NSW Biocontrol Weeds Taskforce - https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds/weed-control/biological-control/
nsw-weed-biocontrol-taskforce
NSW WeedWise - http://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/
North West Local Land Services (NW LLS) - https://northwest.lls.nsw.gov.au/
North West Weeds - http://www.northwestweeds.com.au/
PlantNET - http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/
Weed Control and Identification - https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds/weed-control
Weeds of National Significance - http://weeds.ala.org.au/WoNS/
North West Landcare
North West Plains Sustainability Group - https://www.facebook.com/northwestplainsgroup/
Northern Slopes Landcare Association - http://www.northernslopeslandcare.com.au/
Tamworth Regional Landcare Association - http://www.trla.org.au/
Resources
Australian Weed Strategy - http://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/pest-animals-
and-weeds/review-aus-pest-animal-weed-strategy/aus-weeds-strategy
New South Wales Weed Control Handbook - https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds/weed-control/
management-guides/noxious-enviro-weed-control
Invasive Cacti Field Guide: Identification and control of invasive cacti, North West NSW - https://
www.northernslopeslandcare.com.au/images/Cacti/5537_Cacti_Booklet_VeryFINAL_WEB.pdf
Opuntiod Cacti Best Practice Control Manual - https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/invasive-species/opuntioid-cacti-best-
practice-control-manual
NSW Acts and Regulations
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 - https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/2016/63
Biosecurity Act 2015 - https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/legislation/list/biosecurity-act-2015
EPA Pesticide Act 1999 - https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/licensing-and-regulation/legislation-and-compliance/acts-
administered-by-the-epa/act-summaries#pa
EPA Pesticide Regulation 2017 - https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/licensing-and-regulation/legislation-and-compliance/
acts-administered-by-the-epa/regulation-summaries#PestReg
Local Land Services Act 2013 - https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/2013/51
Further Information
NW Local Land Services - Feedback Online: rateitnow.com/
northwestllsregion
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Cactus Quarterly - Contact
NW Cacti Control Coordinator
Northern Slopes Landcare Association
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0402 014 769
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 8