• Source: Prickly pears in Australia

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. Many of these, especially the tiger pear, quickly became widespread invasive species, rendering 40,000 km2 (15,000 sq mi) of farming land unproductive. 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.
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.




Species


These Opuntia species are recorded as naturalised in Australia:

Opuntia aurantiaca
Opuntia dejecta
Opuntia dillenii
Opuntia elata
Opuntia elatior
Opuntia engelmannii
Opuntia ficus-indica
Opuntia humifusa
Opuntia leucotricha
Opuntia microdasys
Opuntia monacantha
Opuntia polyacantha
Opuntia puberula
Opuntia robusta
Opuntia schickendantzii
Opuntia sp. Schrank
Opuntia streptacantha
Opuntia stricta
Opuntia sulphurea
Opuntia tomentosa




See also


Invasive species in Australia
Conservation in Australia
Agriculture in Australia




References






External links


Prickly Pear photograph album 1926-1933 digitised and held by State Library of Queensland
Prickly pears in Australia at the Australian Weeds Committee
History of prickly pear in Australia - from a New South Wales' perspective
A prickly problem : Dr Jean White-Haney and the prickly pear, State Library of Queensland
Prickly-Pear Experimental Station, Dulacca: report from 1st May, 1915, to 30th June, 1916 / by Jean White-Haney, State Library of Queensland
Prickly-Pear Experimental Station, Dulacca: reports up to 30th April, 1914 / by Jean White, State Library of Queensland
Prickly-Pear Experimental Station, Dulacca: report from 1st May, 1914, to 30th April, 1915 / Jean White-Haney, State Library of Queensland
Prickly Pear Control Oral History, State Library of Queensland
Henderson Photograph Album 1922-1930, State Library of Queensland

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Prickly pears in Australia
• Prickly pear
• Opuntia
• Cane toads in Australia
• Opuntia stricta
• Opuntia aurantiaca
• Opuntia ficus-indica
• Opuntia monacantha
• Cochineal
• Environmental issues in Australia