"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Franz Heymann
writes
You have a point. I mentioned the use of Cactoblastis cactorum to
clear the prickly pears out of the Little Karoo. After the job was
done, there were rumours floating around that the insect had
started
turning its atention to pumpkin fields. I don't know whether that
threat ever materialised.

There was the whole rabbit/opuntia thing in Oz - I can't remember
whether the rabbits were introduced control the opuntias or vice
versa,
but either way it didn't afterwards look to be such a good idea.

I don't think the rabbits were imported to deal with the opuntias. My
memory says that they were released in the wild in the hope that they
would provide a future source for sport. The Ozzies also dealt with
their opuntias by using the anti-cactus bug.


If you're looking for a classic example of an attempted biological control
going wrong in Oz, the good old Cane Toad springs to mind - it didn't solve
the problem it was hoped it would, and has spread widely, preying on
virtually anything it can fit in its mouth.