Moth eaten landscape

A couple of weeks ago, before we were side-tracked by added family responsibilities, the other half and I had occasion to leave the Hinterland for a day trip westwards into the Outback.  We were surprised by the abrupt change in the landscape once we crossed the range and drove onto into the drought affected plains.

Our destination was the small town of Chinchilla.  Although to most people a chinchilla is a cute rodent with a pelt much prized for fur coats, this outback town has no connection with the animal; the origin of the name is thought to be a corruption of the local Aboriginal word for cypress pine which the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt had recorded as 'jinchilla'.

But it was not the native cypress pines that took my eye as we drove through the countryside, but the remnants of prickly pear cactus that stretched for miles in the paddocks beside the roadway. 

I then remembered the interesting story of the prickly pear infestation last century and its final control using the imported cactoblastis moth.

Regarded by the farmers as the saviour of their land and livelihood, the moth was commemorated in the nearby community of Boonargo by the erection of a community hall named in its honour.  There is a photo of the Cactoblastis Hall in this article.

If you examine the prickly pear plants closely, it is clear that these small heroes are continuing their work today. 

But the major battle has been won and the prickly pear is no longer a threat to rural industry.

It had been a while since we had ventured into the outback and we enjoyed the experiene of re-connecting with the 'real' Australia. 

We have resolved to plan for a longer trip next time.

Comments

[Tjilpi]

Jude, Pablo admitted recently that the Prickly Pear is a native of Missouri.

It seems that we have those miserable Missourians(?sp)to thank for nearly destroying our country!!

[pablo]

Well, it is native to North America too, so you could blame those guys instead.

[hinterlander]

Mmmmm. I reckon we have a few interesting, vigorous growing species here we could send them in exchange.

[Val]

Prickly Pear in Missouri???!?!?!?

That "interesting story" link really was interesting! Too bad the cane toad experiment wasn't as successful.