North West Weeds 
          Your local guide to local noxious weed control (NSW, Australia)

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North West Weeds
ABN 16 052 158 879
Postal address:
20 Dinoga Street
BINGARA
NSW 2404

Velvety tree pear (Opuntia tomentosa) spreads by seeds - very slowly. These large plants can produce huge quantities of fruit, but fortunately the germination rate is not high.

Photo, left:  Former Prickly-pear Destruction Commission officer Kevin Whitton standing underneath a patch of velvety tree pear on the property "Monkstadt", located between Bonshaw and Tenterfield, NSW - circa 1985.

Mechanical removal or chemical treatment of single plants and small or isolated infestations is recommended, to prevent these plants from spreading and eventually turning into large patches.

Right:  close-up shot of velvety tree pear flower.

Biological control using cochineal (Dactylopious opuntiae) insects can be very effective. BUT, the insects are not very mobile and need to be manually transferred into uninfected plants.  The insects work better if they are given shelter from the elements.  This is done by cutting parts of the plant down and stacking them around the base of the plant. 

After the insects are established on the plant itself, the biocontrol program can be further assisted by cutting some of the main plants down (about 300mm above ground level).  Ideally, try to land these plants on rocks/logs to minimise their contact with the soil and their ability to take root. Those parts of the plant that break away when the plant hits the ground should be stacked back on top of the main plant.  Cutting the tree pear down does three things; (1) it severs the plant's food supply, (2) reduces the plants resistance to the effects of the tiny cochineal insects, and (3) provides a sheltered environment (the underside of the leaves) for the cochineal insects to flourish in.

Chemical treatment of velvety tree pear is effective, because the plants are easy to find.  Unfortunately the work can be costly because of the volume of herbicide needed to cover the plants.  According to NSW DPI’s excellent booklet “Noxious and Environmental Weed Control Handbook 2001/2002”, and other sources, herbicide treatments include:

 IMPORTANT:  USE OF PESTICIDES – ALWAYS READ THE LABEL

Pesticides must only be used for the purpose for which they are registered and must not be used in any other situation or in any manner contrary to the directions on the label.  Never use a herbicide in any way contrary to the label recommendations.

MORE INFORMATION

Cochineal.htm on this website.  Information on individual prickly pear species is also included in this website.  Return to Weeds List for rope pear, harrisia, velvety tree pear, prickly pear history etc. 

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DISCLAIMER:   The information contained in this web site is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing. However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of North West Weeds or the user’s independent adviser.

LRTanner 2002

Send mail to lestanner@aapt.net.au with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2007-2008 Last modified: 25/11/07 - L R Tanner