Cactus Quarterly
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CACTUS 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 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. 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 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? 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 Mexico, 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 Cactoblastis cactorum 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).