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

Weed Warriors Weed Warriors

Nicole McGuiness

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”

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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

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WHERE DO WE FIND WEEDS?

• On farms
• In natural environments
• In the water
• In the garden

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HOW ARE WEEDS SPREAD?

• Stock Feed
• Animals
• Soil Disturbance
• Humans
• Garden Waste
• Water
• Machinery and Vehicles
• Wind

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WEEDS IN OUR LOCAL AREA? Can you name some?

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Horehound

Salvation Jane

Bridal Creeper

False Caper

African Boxthorn

Boneseed

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

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DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES INCLUDE?

• Prevention
• Pasture and Grazing Management
• Mulching
• Plant competition
• Burning
• Chemical Control
• Physical Control
• Biological Control

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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.

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Some Biological Agents currently in the South East Are……

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Horehound

Plume Moth

Gorse

Spider Mite Thrip

Salvation Jane

Root boring Weevil Flea Beetle Crown Boring Weevil

Bridal Creeper

Rust Fungus Leafhopper

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.

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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
• f 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.

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Leafhopper

• Adult leafhoppers are white, 2-3mm long and live on the underside
• f 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.

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