prickly pear flower Opuntia

Photographed at moana south australia The first plants of prickly pear were brought into Australia to start a cochineal dye industry. At that time, Spain had a world-wide monopoly on the important cochineal dye industry and the British Government was keen to set up its own source of supply within its dominion.By 1912 the prickly pear situation in both New South Wales and Queensland was very serious, with more that 10 million acres infested,By 1920, prickly pear was completely out of control, infesting some 60 million acres of land.As the amazing spread of prickly pear in eastern Australia was considered to be one of the botanical wonders of the world, its virtual destruction by cactoblastis caterpillars (Cactoblastis cactorum) is still regarded as the world's most spectacular example of successful weed biological control.