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Background
Prickly pest pears are shallow rooted drought tolerant plants which can impede movement of stock and humans, displace native plants and reduce the carrying capacity of pasture. Infestations can easily expand and spread when segments break off and come in contact with soil or when the fruit is consumed and spread by birds and foxes. Prickly pest pears originated from Northern and Central America and were originally introduced into Australia as early as 1839 for ornamental shrubs, hedge plants, fodder plants for stock and as a food plant for cochineal insects to support the carmine dye industry. |
What does it look like?
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Why are they a problem?
Prickly pest pears are drought tolerant plants, which can impede movement and displace native vegetation and pasture species. Some of the Opuntia species were used as fodder crops, but the spines on many species deterred many grazing animals. Fruits are a food source for birds (both native and introduced) and foxes, and are also a biosecurity threat to horticultural industries as they are a host for fruit fly.
How do we control them?
Prickly pest pears are drought tolerant plants, which can impede movement and displace native vegetation and pasture species. Some of the Opuntia species were used as fodder crops, but the spines on many species deterred many grazing animals. Fruits are a food source for birds (both native and introduced) and foxes, and are also a biosecurity threat to horticultural industries as they are a host for fruit fly.
How do we control them?
- Physical control: Physical removal and deep burial and/or burning is only suitable for small infestations, care should be taken to bury/burn all segments and growth material.
- Chemical control: The application, either by foliar spray, or injection into the main stem or individual segments with products containing Glyphosate, MSMA, Triclopyr, Triclopyr+Picloram mixes and Metsulfuron methyl. Some of these products are soil active and residual, care should be taken when applying, always read and follow the label directions. Monitoring and re-treatment (if required) is essential to controlling these pest plants.
- Biological control: Biological control agents such as the Cactoblastis moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) and Cochineal insects (Dactylopius species) have varied rates of success and are dependent on the Opuntia species being controlled.