QUARTERLY NSW, North West Region Winter 2020 Latest news In This Issue Minister Adam Marshall checks out Hudson pear Latest News Once again the biocontrol Dactylopius • Minister Adam Marshall checks out Hudson tomentosus (‘californica var. par- pear keri’) commonly known as cochineal for • Identification of unknown cacti in the NW re- Hudson pear, Cylindropuntia pal- gion • Tiger pear cladode swap lida was in the spotlight, as Lightning • Biocontrol of Hudson pear using cochineal Ridge had a visit from Minister Adam Marshall on July 7, 2020. Common prickly pear - O. stricta In collaboration with Department of Pri- Photo: Minister Adam Marshall Prickly Pear History mary Industries Senior Researcher An- and Andrew McConnachie, DPI. Tourism drew McConnachie, Walgett Shire Council Weed Officers Mat Sav- • Help prevent the spread of cacti! age and Andrea Fletcher, North West Local Land Service Regional • Caravanning Australia - Spring 2020 Weed Officer Pete Dawson and Northern Slopes Land- NEW Cacti Resources care NW Cacti Control Coor- Events dinator Jo Skewes, they Networks were given the opportunity to show case their hard work in Know your local Weeds Officer developing a program that Further Information delivers an effective on Photo (left to right): J. Skewes, M. Savage, P. Funded through the NW Cacti Coordinator Program Dawson, A. Fletcher and A. McConnachie. ground biocontrol whilst working with the community Email: [email protected] Phone: 0402 014 769 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

“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. 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 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 ). 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.

1 How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 1 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 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? Photo: Tiger pear with cochineal, Les Tanner. 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

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- Photo: The mass-rearing facility at Light- neal contact Walgett Shire Weed Officer Mat Savage on 0427 253 463 or NW ning Ridge, Andrea Fletcher. 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.

2 How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 2 Common prickly pear • Fertile seeds Source: Field Identification Guide 2nd Edition Opuntia stricta How does it spread? Where did it come from and where is it now? 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

Figure: O. stricta distribution, Atlas of Living Australia 2020. Must not be imported into the State or sold

North West Common pest pear is native to the south eastern USA, Biosecurity Act requirements & Strategic Response east coast of , northern South America, Cuba, Ba- in the region hamas and Bermuda. After introduction to Australia, the Mandatory Measure (Division 8, Clause 33, Biosecurity plant invaded large areas of northern NSW and central Regulation 2017): A person must not import into the State Queensland in the early 1900s. At the peak of its invasion or sell. Source: North West Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan it occupied some 25,000,000 hectares. Executive Summary Source: NSW WeedWise, 2020 What does it look like? How do you control it? Sprawling/erect shrub, up to 2 m tall. Biocontrol Forms thickets. During the 1920s and 1930s various biological control Cladodes agents were released for its control. Now common pest • Green to grey green pear is largely controlled by cactoblastis, Cactoblastis • Eliptic to obovate cactorum. In areas where cactoblastis cannot complete 2 • 10-25 cm long generations per year, it can be controlled by the cochi- Spines neal, Dactylopius opuntiae. O. stricta var. stricta Cochineal Cactoblastis • Spineless Dactylopius opuntiae O. stricta var. dillenii Order: Hemiptera Order: Lepidoptera • Up to 11 per areole Family: Dactylopiidae Family: Pyralidae • 1.5-4 cm long Genus: Dactylopius Genus: Cactoblastis Flowers Species: opuntiae Species: cactorum • Yellow Photo: C. • 6 cm diameter cactorum, Fruit R. Burr Figure: O. stricta, NSW • Fleshy, globular to pear shaped (TRC). WeedWise & NW Weeds • 6 cm long • Purplish red 3 How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 3 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 Historical photo shows lady told many of us who were boys in Scone in the ‘sixties and another of the early ‘seventies, that she was responsible for it in that way, and seemed to (and rather drastic) glory in the knowledge that she did so. She then told me that a plant PRICKLY PEAR TREATMENT methods was sent to Bundarra about 1843.” Article: Unknown – fumes from a boiling

Source: North West Weeds, Prickly Pear History - http:// arsenate mixture drift-

northwestweeds.com.au/images-library/image-library-prickly-pear-species/ ing across the pear prickly-pear-history-ppdc/prickly-pear-history/ (image left & right). (circa 1919-20s – pho- tographer unknown).

4 How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 4

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.

5 How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 5 NEW Cacti Resources

Seen this plant? Biocontrol of Hudson pear Hudson pear Cylindropuntia pallida Using the Cochineal Dactylopius to- mentosus (californica var. parkeri) Available at Available at Northern Slopes Landcare website Northern Slopes Landcare website Cacti → Resources Cacti → Resources https://www.northernslopeslandcare.c https://www.northernslopeslandcare.c om.au/images/Cacti/SeenThis_HudsonPe om.au/images/Cacti/CochinealBioc on- ar_HIGHRes.pdf trol_Hudsonpear_HIGHRes.pdf

Events AQF3 Chemical Accreditation Cochineal ready to be released Do you have Hudson pear on AQF3 Chemical Accredi- your property or mining claim? tation - BOOKED OUT! The new biocontrol mass-rearing The last of the free courses facility at Lightning Ridge is stocked to be run under this pro- with the Hudson pear cochineal and gram are now BOOKED they are ready to be released. OUT! Contact Mat Savage on 0427 253 If you would like to get onto 463 to collect your plastic tub (for the waiting list for either collecting clean Hudson pear seg- Lightning Ridge or Grawin ments - no ants or soil). Swap your please call Jo Skewes on tub of clean segments for a tub of 0402 014 769 cochineal-infected segments. Mat will advise you on how to release the cochineal and record the release data. Networks 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

Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator covered. Subscribe now and email [email protected] Keep in touch with Across the Paddock is a bi-monthly newsletter brought to the latest news, you by your North West Regional Agriculture Landcare events and funding Facilitators (NW RALF) and supported by Tamworth Re- across the North gional Landcare Association (TRLA) and Northern West - whether it’s Slopes Landcare Association (NSLA) through North news on local farmer groups, available funding to im- West Local Land Services (NW LLS) and the National prove your farm business or field days and events hap- Landcare Program (NLP). pening in your local area, ‘Across the Paddock’ has you

6 How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 6 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.

Gunnedah Shire Council Moree Plains Shire Council Walgett Shire Council Senior Weeds Officer Senor Biosecurity Officer Castlereagh Macquarie County Lee Amidy 0427 254 188 Ian Schwartz 0427 044 521 Council Neil Worboys 0436 950 781 Biosecurity Officer Senior Weeds Officer Lachlan Biddle 0408 204 577 Andrea Fletcher 0428 462 060 63 Elgin Street Gunnedah NSW 2380 Weeds Officer Phone 02 6740 2100 Moree Office Mat Savage 0427 253 463 Postal Address Level 2, Max Centre Weeds Officer PO Box 63 30 Heber Street David Ryan 0401 835 563 Gunnedah NSW 2380 Moree NSW 2400 Email [email protected] Phone 02 6757 3222 77 Fox Street Walgett NSW 2832 Postal Address Phone 02 6828 6100 Gwydir Shire Council PO Box 420 Postal Address Weeds Officer Warialda Moree NSW 2400 PO Box 31 Scott McLachlan 0428 305 364 Email [email protected] Walgett NSW 2832 Weeds Officer Bingara E-mail [email protected] Adrian Wood 0448 181 321 Narrabri Shire Council Senior Authorised Officer - Weeds NW Local Land Services Postal Address Clare Felton-Taylor 0427 294 771 Moree Office 02 6750 9000 Locked Bag 5 Authorised Officer - Weeds Warialda Office 02 6729 1529 Bingara NSW 2404 Chris Watkins 0429 202 205 Narrabri Office 1300 795 299 Email [email protected] Tamworth Office 02 6764 5900 Bingara Office 46-48 Maitland Street Walgett Office 02 6828 6400 33 Maitland Street Narrabri NSW 2390 Gunnedah Office 02 6742 9220 Bingara NSW 2404 Phone 02 6799 6866 Goondiwindi Office 0428 432 784 Phone 02 6724 2000 Postal Address Warialda Office PO Box 261 Department of Primary Industries 52 Hope Street Narrabri NSW 2390 Biosecurity Help Line 1800 680 244 Warialda NSW 2402 Email [email protected] Phone 02 6729 3000 Tamworth Regional Council Liverpool Plains Shire Senior Weeds Officer Council Mal Stein 0429 821 579 Authorised Officer - Weeds Weeds Officer Mike Whitney 0427 961 980 Robert Burr 0419 271 593

60 Station Street Ray Walsh House Quirindi NSW 2343 437 Peel Street Phone 02 6746 1755 Tamworth NSW 2340 Postal Address Phone 02 6767 5555 PO Box 152 Postal Address Quirindi NSW 2343 PO Box 555 Email [email protected] Tamworth NSW 2340 Email [email protected]

7 How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 7 Further Information 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

Cactus Quarterly - Sign Up Cactus Quarterly - Contact NW Local Land Services - Feedback Online: http://eepurl.com/dH1wAv NW Cacti Control Coordinator Online: rateitnow.com/ QR Reader App Northern Slopes Landcare Association northwestllsregion Email: [email protected] Phone: 0402 014 769

8 How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 8