Pests of Aotea 17-PRO-0042 Great Barrier Island a local guide Find out more: visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or call 09 301 0101 Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................... 4 Pest plants ..............................................................................................................6 Climbing asparagus (Asparagus scandens) ..............................................................7 Smilax (Asparagus asparagoides) ..............................................................................8 Moth plant (Araujia hortorum) ...................................................................................9 Ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum) ....................................................................... 10 Woolly nightshade (Solanum mauritianum) .........................................................11 Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) ............................................................12 Tree Privet (Ligustrum lucidum) ...............................................................................13 Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia) ..........................................................................14 Glyceria (Poa aquatica) ..............................................................................................15 Lantana (Lantana camara).........................................................................................16 Asiatic knotweed (Fallopia japonica) ......................................................................17 Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) ...................................................................................18 Grey willow (Salix cineria) .........................................................................................19 Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) ......................................................................... 20 Mile-a-minute (Dipogon lignosus) ...........................................................................21 Water Pennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata) ........................................................ 22 Other pest plants ......................................................................................................... 23 2 | Pests of Aotea Great Barrier – a local guide Pest animals ........................................................................................................ 24 Ship rat (Rattus rattus) .................................................................................... 25 Kiore (Rattus exulans)...................................................................................... 27 Mouse (Mus musculus) ....................................................................................28 Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus) .................................................... 29 Feral pig (Sus scrofa)........................................................................................30 Feral cat (Felis catus) ........................................................................................31 Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) ............................................................. 32 Darwin’s ant (Doleromyrma darwiniana) .....................................................33 Plague skink (Lampropholis delicata) ...........................................................34 Other pest animals ......................................................................................... 35 Kauri dieback (Phytophthora agathidicida) ........................................................ 36 Useful websites .................................................................................................. 38 Glossary ............................................................................................................... 39 Booklet published by the Great Barrier Local Board with support from the Auckland Council Biosecurity and Biodiversity teams, March 2017. Front cover image (ship rat) courtesy of Nga Manu Nature Images. Pests of Aotea Great Barrier – a local guide | 3 The Needles (Ngā Taratara o Toi) Aiguilles Island Introduction (Owhanga) Miners Head Tataweka Aotea Great Barrier Island is one of Auckland’s biodiversity Te Paparahi Rangiwhakea Bay hotspots. But our unique flora and fauna is under constant Ahuriri Point threat from pest plants and pest animals. We already fund Motairehe Whanga Motairehe SS Wairarapa graves weed and pest animal management programmes but we Katherine Bay Rakitū Maunganui SS Wairarapa graves Whangapoua Beach (Arid Island) still need your help to protect our island’s treasures. Kawa Whangapoua Okiwi Airfield The Great Barrier Local Board initiated this booklet with the aim of raising Karaka Bay Port awareness of threats to the islands' unique biodiversity, lifestyle and our Abercrombie Okiwi Harataonga Bay Motuhaku Port FitzRoy Windy Canyon Wharf Port primary industries. Whakatautuna Kaikoura Island FitzRoy We profile 25 species present on the island – 16 pest plants, nine pest animals Hirakimatā (Mt Hobson) Harbour Korotiti and one pathogen (kauri dieback). For each species, there is a brief description to help you identify it and some details around its known impacts. Awana Bay Maungapiko Kaitoke Hotpools Motuhoroa We have also highlighted nine pest plants and nine pest animals in a handy grid. Kaitoke Swamp Broken Islands Palmers Beach Whangaparapara Whether this booklet guides you as a newcomer to spotting and controlling Kaitoke Beach Claris Airport Te Ahumatā Wharf pests on your land, or simply reminds you of good practice, we hope it will Whangaparapara Claris Medlands become dog-eared with use! But if you’re in any doubt about identification or Whangaparapara Harbour 5 eradication, contact the Auckland Council Biosecurity team for help. Jetty Okupu Okupu Bay Thanks for your efforts in supporting our island’s unique biodiversity. Station Rock Windy Hill SS Wiltshire Schooner Tryphena Bay Wharf Rosalie Bay Te Rangitāwhiri Whanga Ruahine Public park 5km Sandy Bay Cape Barrier (Tai-Tū-Matā) 4 | Pests of Aotea Great Barrier – a local guide The Needles (Ngā Taratara o Toi) Aiguilles Island (Owhanga) Miners Head Tataweka Te Paparahi Rangiwhakea Bay Ahuriri Point Motairehe Whanga Motairehe SS Wairarapa graves Katherine Bay Rakitū Maunganui SS Wairarapa graves Whangapoua Beach (Arid Island) Kawa Whangapoua Okiwi Airfield Karaka Bay Port Abercrombie Okiwi Harataonga Bay Motuhaku Port FitzRoy Windy Canyon Wharf Port Whakatautuna Kaikoura Island FitzRoy Hirakimatā (Mt Hobson) Harbour Korotiti Awana Bay Maungapiko Kaitoke Hotpools Motuhoroa Kaitoke Swamp Broken Islands Palmers Beach Whangaparapara Kaitoke Beach Claris Airport Te Ahumatā Wharf Whangaparapara Claris Medlands Whangaparapara Harbour 5 Jetty Okupu Okupu Bay Station Rock Great Barrier Windy Hill SS Wiltshire Schooner Tryphena Local Board area Bay Wharf Rosalie Bay Te Rangitāwhiri Whanga Ruahine Public park 5km Sandy Bay Cape Barrier (Tai-Tū-Matā) Pests of Aotea Great Barrier – a local guide | 5 Pest plants Pest plants (sometimes called weeds) are plants that are not native to an area and have a negative impact in some way. The 16 pest plants we feature in this booklet represent a range of climbers or vines, shrubs and large trees. They all damage our indigenous biodiversity, most often by displacing or competing with our native plants directly. The following pest plants are present on Aotea Great Barrier Island but not yet widespread like they are elsewhere in Auckland – and we’d like to keep it that way! We hope this information helps you spot these plants on your property, or at a friends’ or neighbours’ place. If you have come across any of the following 16 species of weeds please contact Auckland Council Biosecurity with a view to eradication. 6 | Pests of Aotea Great Barrier – a local guide Climbing asparagus (Asparagus scandens) What it looks like Why it is a problem • Scrambling and climbing plant, Outcompetes and smothers native also found in trees as an epiphyte. vegetation, preventing regenration. • Slender, extensively branched stems wrap around small trees and saplings. Fine, fern-like foliage; small, delicate leaves attached to hooked vines. • Tiny white flowers (September to December). Many round berries, ripening green to red-orange. • Very shade tolerant. Found in forest interiors as well as edges. • Birds spread the seed, vegetative spread by tubers. • Extremely fast growing. Pests of Aotea Great Barrier – a local guide | 7 Smilax (Asparagus asparagoides) What it looks like • Seeds dispersed by birds, animals, machinery and dumped tubers in • Climbing perennial herb, garden refuse. grows up to 3m. Why it is a problem • Grows from short rhizomes with tuberous roots. It smothers native vegetation, becoming the dominant species in • Smallish, glossy, thin green leaves, urban situations. Competes with or alternate, broadly oval-shaped, replaces native plant species. with sharp point. • Small greenish-white flowers (July to August). Small, sticky red berries. 8 | Pests of Aotea Great Barrier – a local guide Moth plant (Araujia hortorum) What it looks like Why it is a problem • Slender evergreen vine growing It becomes the dominant species in over hosts, up to 6m. Arrowhead- urban situations and competes with like, opposite leaves, dark green on or replaces native plant species. top, grey-green below. • Clusters of small creamy-coloured, waxy, tubular flowers (December to May). Become large choko- like seed pods that dry and split, releasing 250 to 1000 parachute-