Overview of the Weed Biological Control Section

The Weed Biological Control Section (WBCS) is based at Tamworth Agricultural Institute but also has staff located at Grafton, Wagga Wagga, Mudgee and Dubbo.

The primary function of the WBCS is the rearing and redistribution of biological control agents for a range of weeds including bitou bush, lantana, bridal creeper, salvinia, water hyacinth, Paterson's curse and blue heliotrope. In addition, WBCS staff are involved in the Weed Warriors program both through supply of biological control agents to participating schools and as technical experts. WBCS staff also are currently conducting research on ecology of biological control agents on bitou bush, lantana, salvinia, water hyacinth and Paterson's curse.

The WBCS is linked to the CRC for Australian Weed Management through the projects conducting  research on general principles relating to establishment and evaluation of biological control agents.

For more information contact Royce Holtkamp, State Coordinator - Weed Biological Control, (Tamworth) on (02) 6763 1234 or email royce.holtkamp@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Establishment of a national distribution model for the salvinia biological control weevil

This project proposes to establish a national distribution model for the distribution of the salvinia weevil.  This biological control agent provides successful biological control for salvinia as far south as Grafton in Northern NSW. With integration with other control methods the salvinia weevil can be effective in cooler climates as far south as Sydney.

Current distribution practices of the weevil are not capable of delivering suitable quantities on a national level and in some cases risk transporting other aquatic pests. Many local weed control authorities have little access to salvinia weevils. As a result for control they are relying on herbicide and mechanical treatment methods, which are costly, time consuming and can have environmental side effects. Also a current practice of weevil distribution involves the collection and transportation of wild populations of weevil infested salvinia, which risks the transportation of other aquatic weeds and pests.

NHT funding will be used to:

• improve capacity of an existing biological control agent rearing facility in Grafton Northern NSW to produce enough agents suitable for state wide distribution. This will involve the purchase of 4 new rearing tanks and liners
• cover distribution costs of salvinia biological control agents to regions in each state for a one year trial period.

To create an efficient distribution process regional contacts will be established in each Catchment Management Authority / NRM Regional Body region. Regional contacts will be responsible for taking regional orders and assist with promotion of the facility.

For more information contact Rod Ensbey, Regional Weeds Coordinator (Grafton) on (02) 6640 1648 or email rod.ensbey@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Biological control of Patersons curse: Establishing nursery sites in regions with late and unreliable rainfall

This three year project has two objectives that will ensure that biological control of Patersons curse will continue in a self-sustaining manner.

The first objective involves training weeds professionals and landholders to competently use biological control of Patersons curse as a management tool. This will be achieved via redistribution and training field days and through an information toolkit CD (A Practical guide to Biological control of Patersons curse in Australia). The CD provides people interested in Patersons curse biological control with information on agents, agent collection, establishing nursery sites and redistribution.

The second objective involves establishing nursery sites for two biological control agents in regions with late and unreliable rainfall. These two agents are the Portuguese strain of the crown weevil Mogulones larvatus and the flea beetle Longitarsus echii.

Collaborating partners include Australian Wool Innovation Ltd, WA Department of Agriculture and Food, South Australia Research and Development Institute and the Victoria DPI.

For information contact Biological Weeds Control Coordinator, Paul Sullivan (Tamworth) on (02) 6763 1175 or email paul.sullivan@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Lantana Rust Biological Control Project

This program has been initiated in conjunction with the NSW Lantana Task Force. The project aims to increase the distribution of the lantana rust, Prospodium tuberculatum, as a biological control agent for lantana in NSW. These funds are used for the ongoing funding of the program.

The rust is propagated on host plants in temperature controlled glasshouse facilities at Grafton and harvested spores are stored in liquid nitrogen until conditions are suitable for release.  The rust supplies are then distributed to a range of clients including local control authorities (LCAs), Forests NSW and National Parks and Wildlife Service for release.

Since 2001, in excess of 600 releases have been made thoughout the range of lantana in coastal and sub-coastal NSW. Many of these were re-releases at existing sites in an effort to augment establishment. Lantana rust is now known to be established at over 100 sites covering most regions of the coast. In come cases the rust has spread 10-20 kilometres from the initial release sites. However, there are a number of sites which require re-checking and the Weed Management Unit, Weed Biological Control Section has recently conducted a series of training workshops for land managers to assist them in the identification of lantana rust and monitoring of their local sites. Resources are available to assist this endeavour (see below).

• Information sheet
• Monitoring sheet (to come)
• Release sheet
• Photographs

For more information contact Royce Holtkamp, State Coordinator Weed Biological Contact (Tamworth) on (02) 6763 1234, email royce.holtkamp@industry.nsw.gov.au or Rod Ensbey, Regional Weeds Coordinator (Grafton) on (02) 6640 1648 or email rod.ensbey@industry.nsw.gov.au.

Weed Warriors

Weed Warriors is an innovative national education program that aims to increase community awareness and involvement in local weed issues.

The program recognises children as the land managers of the future and seeks to empower and engage them in weed issues through an on-going program of classroom and field-based activities.

During the program, students work closely wit local weed officers land mangers and community groups to plan, implement and evaluate a biological control program for a regional priority weed.  The students with guidance from local weed experts are given the task of breeding the biological control agents in their classroom before releasing the classroom reared agents at a local infestation.  This enables students to play an active role in bringing a solution to a weed problem in their local community.

Weed Warriors provides a high level of support and resources to assist weed professionals and schools implement the program.

For more information visit www.weedwarriors.net.au or contact Alyssa Schembri, NSW Weed Warriors Coordinator on (02) 6391 3850 or email alyssa.schembri@industry.nsw.gov.au