CACTUS QUARTERLY - Northern Slopes Landcare · cactus species, includ-ing tree pear and tiger pear. The focus for the day was on harrisia cactus which was both stressed and growing
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Hudson pear - C. pallida Lightning Ridge Hudson pear mass-rearing facility nearing completion Generous funding from the NSW Government (Office for Environment and Heritage) has seen the construction of a
biocontrol agent rearing facility at Lightning Ridge. For the next three years, this facility will be used to mass-rear the
Hudson pear cochineal, a biocontrol agent which will form part of the Integrated Weed Management plan to abate
the threat of Hudson pear in the North West of NSW and potential impacts throughout the Murray Darling Basin.
The Hudson pear mass-rearing facility is a 10 x 27 meter long plastic tunnel, equipped with roof and side-wall vents
to control its internal climate. The facility is in the process of being kitted out with a shelving system which will house
the 840 plastic rearing tubs required to breed the cochineal.
It is anticipated that once the facility reaches maximum production, it will be able to produce upwards of 100,000
infected Hudson pear segments per year for release. These will be used to flood the core Hudson pear infestation
around Lightning Ridge, Cumborah and Grawin.
The facility will initially require a significant amount of fresh, uninfected Hudson pear segments to get the ball rolling.
If you are able to assist with the collection of any material, please contact Mat Savage (Castlereagh Macquarie
The official opening and naming of the facility has been earmarked for the week of 3-7 February 2020. This coin-
cides with three training workshops (Lightning Ridge – 4 Feb, Cumborah – 7 Feb, Grawin – 8 Feb, see page 6 for
more information) designed to train interested parties in becoming part of this exciting program to tackle Hudson
pear.
By: Andrea Fletcher, Mat Savage and Andrew McConnachie
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 2
Figure: The pouring of the slab, M. Savage. Figure: Erection of the structure begins, M. Sav-
age.
Figure: Installation of the roof, M. Savage. Figure: Shelves and plastic breeding contain-
ers, M. Savage.
3
Hudson Pear Spray Group B collection day The Hudson Pear Spray Group had an action packed day on Saturday 7 December
filling 402 x 50 litre tubs of Hudson pear segments for the new mass-rearing facility.
These tubs will have the new Hudson pear biologi-
cal agent added to them, with the intent that the
agent will start feeding and breeding on the seg-
ments. This process of rearing the biocontrol agent
will support the community focused Biological Re-
lease Program including training workshops early in
the new year.
Andrea Fletcher and Mat Savage from Castlereagh
Macquarie County Council reflected on the day say-
ing “the group exceeded our expectations. From
asking for a demo on how to collect segments
to how to stack the tubs. A hard day with lots of
fun!”
Jumping Cholla - C. prolifera Biocontrol on the attack! During a most recent monitoring trip to Lightning Ridge and surrounding areas Andrew
McConnachie (Senior Research Scientist, NSW DPI) and Pete Turner (Manager, Invasive
Species, NSW DPI) were able to assess the impact biocontrol is having on the Jumping
Cholla, Cylindropuntia prolifera.
The cochineal ‘californica var. parkeri’ lineage is thriving on C. prolifera infestations found
around Lightning Ridge. Andrew noted, “This is the same lineage of cochineal that is be-
ing released on Hudson pear and it is having an impressive impact on jumping cholla! This
was predicted in laboratory testing and it is encouraging to see
the same results in the field.”
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 3
Figure: A. McConnachie (left)
and P. Turner (right).
Figure: Brock collecting segments
with his trusty rake. Figure: HPSG member busy collecting
segments.
Figure: Tubs waiting to be transported back to
the mass-rearing facility.
Figure: Mat Savage (left) and Andrea Fletcher
(right) in a full mass-rearing facility.
Figure: Rhett collecting segments.
A massive THANK YOU to all 14 volunteers
who participate in the collecting 402 tubs
worth of Hudson pear segments!
Merry Christmas and we look forward to an
exciting new year!
- Community Biological Release Program
4
Rope Pear Cylindropuntia imbricata
Where did it come from and where is it now?
Cylindropuntia imbricata, native to the USA and central
Mexico, was first recorded in Australia in 1911. The plant
is particularly common around mining towns in western
NSW.
Source: Department of Primary Industries WeedWise, 2019
What does it look like?
Much-branched spiny plant, often 2–3 m high, with rope-
like segments growing at various angles to the upright
branches.
Cladodes
• Dull grey-green
• 15-40 cm long
• 3.5-5 cm diameter
• Large, widely spaced tubercles give
a woven, rope like appearance
Spines
• 2-12 spines per areole
• 0.8-3 cm long
• Trunks often covered in spines
• Off white-cream sheath attached.
Flowers
• Dark pink, magenta
Fruit
• Fleshy, egg shaped, to 4 cm long
• Greenish yellow when ripe
• Can form chains
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
Place infected cladodes on the top of the shrub to en-
courage the cochineal to transfer onto the healthy plant. It
also aids in protection of the cochineal until the conditions
are right for the cochineal to move around.
Cochineal Dactylopius tomentosus ‘imbricata’
Scientific name
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Dactylopiidae
Genus: Dactylopius
Species: tomentosus
Lineage: imbricata
How invasive is YOUR cactus? Page 4
Figure: C. imbricata distribution, Atlas of Living Australia 2019.
Figure: C. imbricata,
WeedWise.
Check out the latest news from the NSW Weed Biocontrol Taskforce at
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 identify-
ing and controlling any State Priority Weeds you might find on your property.