Weed Warriors Weed Warriors Nicole McGuiness Weed Warriors Weed - PDF document

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors Nicole McGuiness

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors WHAT IS A WEED? A WEED is a plant living “out of place” or a plant growing in an area where it is “not wanted”

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors WHY ARE WEEDS NOT WANTED? Impact on Agricultural Productivity • Injure or poison livestock • Contaminate wool • Compete with crops/ pasture • Carry diseases Impact on Conservation Values • Exclude native plants • Prevent regeneration • Alter the natural habitat Impact on Human Health • Cause allergies • Can be poisonous

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors WHERE DO WE FIND WEEDS? • On farms • In natural environments • In the water • In the garden

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors HOW ARE WEEDS SPREAD? • Stock Feed • Animals • Soil Disturbance • Humans • Garden Waste • Water • Machinery and Vehicles • Wind

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors WEEDS IN OUR LOCAL AREA? Can you name some?

Horehound

Salvation Jane

Bridal Creeper

False Caper

African Boxthorn

Boneseed

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors HOW DO WE MANAGE WEEDS? Weeds can be managed using many different methods. Weeds are most effectively managed if combinations of methods are used. This is termed

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES INCLUDE? • Prevention • Pasture and Grazing Management • Mulching • Plant competition • Burning • Chemical Control • Physical Control • Biological Control

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors WHAT IS BIOLOGICAL CONTROL? • Biological control is using a natural enemy of a plant. • Biological control aims to restore the natural balance between the weed and its environment. • These natural enemies (or biological control agents) are found from the country of origin.

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors Some Biological Agents currently in the South East Are……

Horehound Plume Moth

Thrip Gorse Spider Mite

Salvation Jane Flea Root boring Beetle Weevil Crown Boring Weevil

Leafhopper Bridal Creeper Rust Fungus

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors Bridal Creeper Asparagus asparagoides Biology • Climbing plant to 3m with glossy oval leaves. • The slender stems branch and twine around the support of neighbouring vegetation or manmade structures forming thick ground cover and climbing several meters into the canopy of trees. • Flowers are white and star shaped, forming round, red, sticky berries 6-10mm in diameter. Berries are readily eaten by birds and foxes. • A short thick rhizome gives rise to tuberous roots which form a dense mat under the ground.

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors Bridal Creeper Asparagus asparagoides • Bridal creeper is one of southern Australia’s worst weeds, recognised as a Weed of National Significance (WoNS). • It is very aggressive and highly invasive in bushland, capable of smothering native ground flora and small shrubs. • Bridal creeper invades a variety of environments including coastal areas, wet and dry forests. • Bridal creeper tolerates a wide range of soil and climatic conditions • The perennial root system ensures it can survive drought conditions.

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors Leafhopper •Adult leafhoppers are white, 2-3mm long and live on the underside of bridal creeper leaves. •Eggs are laid on the leaves with the first instar nymphs hatching in 4-7 days. •The nymph will progress through four stages over a period of 2-4 weeks. •Each female lays about 200 eggs over a six week period, and several generations are produced each year. •Leafhoppers are winged and although they can fly a distance of 15– 30cm, they prefer to ‘hop’ between plants or amongst foliage. •Dispersal of leafhopper populations is therefore relatively slow.