A monument to the Cactoblastis cactorum moth at Dalby, Queensland.
Prickly pear forest circa 1930
Infestation of O. tomentosum 2019, near Yelarbon, Queensland

Prickly pears (genus Opuntia) include a number of plant species that were introduced and have become invasive in Australia.

Prickly pears (mostly Opuntia stricta) were imported into Australia in the First Fleet as hosts of cochineal insects, used in the dye industry.[1] Many of these, especially the tiger pear, quickly became widespread invasive species, rendering 40,000 km2 (15,000 sq mi) of farming land unproductive.[2] The moth Cactoblastis cactorum from Argentina, whose larvae eat prickly pear, was introduced in 1925 and almost wiped out the prickly pear. This case is often cited as an example of successful biological pest control.[3][4]

A monument to Cactoblastis cactorum was erected in Dalby, Queensland, commemorating the eradication of the prickly pear in the region. The Cactoblastis Memorial Hall in Boonarga, Queensland, also commemorates the eradication.[5]

Species

These Opuntia species are recorded as naturalised in Australia:[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Prickly Pear Story" (PDF). Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Queensland Government. July 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Reclaiming a Lost Province—1". The Courier-mail. No. 966. Queensland, Australia. 3 October 1936. p. 22. Retrieved 25 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ J. H. Hoffmanna, V. C. Morana and D. A. Zellerb (May 1998). "Evaluation ofCactoblastis cactorum(Lepidoptera: Phycitidae) as a Biological Control Agent of Opuntia stricta (Cactaceae) in the Kruger National Park, South Africa". Biological Control. 12 (1): 20–24. doi:10.1006/bcon.1998.0608.
  4. ^ "National Archives of Australia on Instagram: "Let's try tanks and flamethrowers! Spreading at the rate of a million acres a year by 1919, the prickly pear was out of control. Our latest blog by Penny O'Hara for #NationalScienceWeek reveals the peculiar ways Australians attempted to stop this thorny pest, before discovering a scientific breakthrough with an Argentinean moth. Link in bio. Image: 1920s map illustrating the scale of prickly pear infestation. NAA: B5626, 306 #StoriesFromTheArchives"". Instagram. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  5. ^ "Cactoblastis Memorial Hall (entry 601273)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Opuntia". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 18 July 2012.

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