Natural Resource Management

Weeds and pests (this page); Resource issues.

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Cat's Claw creeper , an invasive exotic vine which has spread rapidly along the fringing tree lines of watercourses in SE Queensland and parts of South Africa, choking vegetation, killing trees and contributing to bank erosion and siltation. CQ82.17s

Balloon Cotton Bush or Cat’s Egg Gomphocarpus (Asclepias) physocarpus, a weed of pasture in well watered coastal districts. From South Africa, Cotton Bush is one of the many introduced weeds that are poisonous to stock. CQ82.7s

Marine Toad Bufo marinus, known as the Cane Toad after being introduced to sugar-cane growing areas eg. Hawaii, Australia, is now a pest, displacing native frog species, poisoning predators and fouling water. CQ49.10s

Biological control in action: caterpillars feeding on Prickly Pear cactus Opuntia sp., a declared pest since the infamous prickly pear infestation in southern Queensland, Australia from about 1870 which spread to cover an area larger than Great Britain by 1920. Cactoblastis cactorum moth caterpillars were introduced from Argentina in 1925 for biological control. CQ26.4s

Creeping lantana (pink, foreground) and common lantana crowd dry rainforest or "softwood scrub", Coulston Lakes, Queensland, displacing native plants and wildlife habitat. CQ33.18s

Dutchman's Pipe, an example of an invasive weed which covers native riparian (streamside) vegetation. Other examples are Madeira vine and cat's claw creeper. CQ53.2s

Pasture management differences shown on boundary fence between lightly and heavily stocked beef producing properties in the Emerald district, central Queensland, Australia. Nutritious and palatable native grasses including Bluegrasses Dicanthium & Bothriochloa spp. have been replaced through overgrazing with Parthenium weed P. hysterophorus (left), a declared plant from Mexico and the USA which has overrun and degraded thousands of hectares of grazing land in north and central Queensland. CQ24.9s

Giant Rat’s Tail Grass Sporobolus pyramidalis taking over cattle pasture in Baffle Creek catchment, Miriam Vale Shire, C. Qld, Australia. From Sth Africa, GRT is a course unpalatable grass which outcompetes fodder grasses, making 1000’s ha of prime grazing land useless. CQ50.14s

Farm overtaken by Parthenium weed P. hysterophorus near Emerald, Central Queensland, Australia. Parthenium is a declared plant introduced from Mexico and the USA which has overrun and degraded thousands of hectares of grazing land in north and central Queensland. It grows rapidly, is easily spread and causes severe dermatitis and hay fever. Several biological control agents have been released in an attempt to control its spread: stem boring, stem galling & leaf mining moths, seed eating, stem boring and stem galling weevils, a leaf eating beetle and a rust. CQ24.8s

The declared pest plant Mother of Millions Kalanchoe tubiflora (syn. Bryophyllum tubiflorum. Mother of Millions is an introduced succulent which spreads vegetatively and overruns large areas of bushland in Queensland and northern New South Wales. CQ82.12s

Biological control of Cotton Bush or Cat’s Egg Gomphocarpus (Asclepias) physocarpus by caterpillar of Wanderer (Monarch) butterfly Danaus plexippus plexippus. Wanderer established widespread populations in Australia after about 1870, probably aided by naturalising weeds. CQ43.14s

Controlling Parthenium weed mechanically

Mechanical weed control on a farm overtaken by Parthenium weed P. hysterophorus near Emerald, Central Queensland, Australia. Parthenium is a declared plant introduced from Mexico and the USA which has overrun and degraded thousands of hectares of grazing land in north and central Queensland. It grows rapidly, is easily spread and causes severe dermatitis and hay fever. CQ29.20s

Hardy Prickly Pear cactus Opuntia sp. reproducing vegetatively - relic of the infamous prickly pear infestation in southern Queensland from about 1870 which spread to cover an area larger than Great Britain by 1920. Cactoblastis cactorum moth caterpillars were introduced from Argentina in 1925 for biological control. CQ24.3s

Spraying Sensitive Weed with a legume herbicide (Starane) which will kill the leguminous weed but will not affect pasture or the sensitive riparian vegetation beside this waterway. CQ55.9s

Stem boring moth attacking Partenium weed

Parthenium weed P. hysterophorus attacked by the stem-galling moth Epiblema strenuana, a biological control agent. Parthenium is a declared plant introduced from Mexico, USA which has overrun and degraded 1 000ha’s of grazing land in north, central Queensland, Australia. CQ31.23s

Biocontrol beetle eating Parthenium weed

Leaf-feeding beetle Zygogramma bicolorata, a biological control agent, attacking Parthenium weed P. hysterophorus. Several biocontrol agents have been released in an attempt to control Parthenium's spread: stem boring, stem galling & leaf mining moths, seed eating, stem boring and stem galling weevils, a leaf eating beetle and a rust. CQ24.7s

Thistle growing in a waste area beside a country railway station. Railway verges and similar disued land can support native vegetation and wildlife biodiversity, if weeds are controlled. CQ33.17s

Monument to the eradication of the prickly pear

Monument to the Prickly Pear cactus Opuntia sp. “the greatest example known to man of any noxious plant invasion” - reference to the infamous prickly pear infestation in southern Queensland, Australia from about 1870 which spread to cover an area larger than Great Britain by 1920. Cactoblastis cactorum moth caterpillars were introduced from Argentina in 1925 for biological control. Monument at Dalby, Darling Downs, now a thriving agricultural centre. SW112.9s

Feral goats Capra hircus in Currawinya NP, outback SW Qld, Australia. Goats were introduced to rangelands by pioneers for milk and meat but ran wild. Now 300 000 or more, they destroy vegetation, cause erosion and compete with wildlife for food, shelter and water. Feral animal control is an important part of nature conservation management. SW112.4s

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