Plant Pests

Plant Pests

The Marlborough District Council's Regional Pest Management Strategy classifies 33 plant species as a pest in the Marlborough district. Sixteen of these plant species are classified as total control plant pests, 10 as containment control plant pests and seven as surveillance plant pests.

Total Control Plant Pests

Seven plant species are classified as total control plant pests in the Marlborough district due to their potential impact on economic values (Marlborough District Council initative). These species are;

1. African Feather grass (Pennisetum macrourum) (72kb)
2. Bathurst Bur (Xanthium spinosum) (81kb)
3. Bur Daisy (Calotis lappulacea) (125kb)
4. Chinese Pennisetum (Pennisetum alpecuroides) (480kb)
5. Saffron Thistle (Carthamus lanatus) (70kb) 
6. Giant Needlegrass (Stipa rudis) (62kb)
7. Parrots Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) (457kb)

Nine plant species are classified as total control plant pests in the Marlborough district due to their potential impact on ecological values (Marlborough District Council / Department of Conservation initative). These species are;

1. Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) (140kb)
2. Climbing Spindleberry (Celastrus orbiculatus) (476kb)
3. Eel Grass (Vallisneria gigantea) (423kb)
4. Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia) (466kb)
5. Moth Plant (Arauja sericifera) (70kb)
6. Cathedral Bells (Cobea scandens) (477kb)
7. Evergreen Buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) (460kb)
8. Senegal Tea (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)
9. Spartina Grass (Spartina anglica) (448kb)
10. Rook
11. Pest Fish (408kb)

Council staff and contractors (and DOC staff in the case of the MDC/DOC initiative), carry out the control of these species at known sites annually before they seed with the ultimate aim being to eradicate them from the district. Council also carries out inspections to monitor for the presence of these plant species on properties surrounding known sites, encourages occupiers to carry out the control of these plant species and provides affected occupiers and interested parties with information relating to these plant pest species.

Containment Control Plant Pests

Ten plant species are classified as containment control plant pests in the Marlborough district due to their impacts on economic and ecological values. These species include;

1. Nassella Tussock (Stipa trichotoma) (81kb)
2. Chilean Needlegrass (Stipa neesiana) (71kb)
3. White-edged Nightshade (Solanum marginatum) (115kb)
4. Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) (99kb)
5. Broom (Cytisus scoparius) (96kb)
6. Gorse (Ulex europeaus) (95kb)
7. Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans) (107kb)
8. Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) (98kb)
9. Contorta pine (Pinus contorta)
10. Possum
11. Feral Rabbit
12. Reed Sweet Grass (Glyceria maxima) (485kb)

The strategy places the obligation for the control of these plant species on the occupier. The level of control required varies from one plant species to another and in the case of some species, from one property to another. Objectives include the prevention of any spread of these plant species and the prevention of any increase in their density.

Council carries out inspections to determine if occupiers have carried out the required control work, carries out enforcement action where required, carries out inspections to monitor for the presence of these plant species on properties surrounding known sites and provides affected occupiers and interested parties with information relating to these plant pest species.

Surveillance Plant Pests

Seven plant species are classified as surveillance pests in the Marlborough district. These are;

1. Blue Morning Glory (Pomoea indica) (470kb)
2. Egeria (Egeria densa) (429kb) 
3. Climbing Asparagus (Asparagus scandens) (452kb)
4. Kahili Ginger and Yellow Ginger (Hedychium gardineramum and H. flavescens) (528kb) 
5. Cotton Thistle (Onopordum acanthium) (497kb)
6. Lagarosiphon (Lagarosiphon major) (453kb)
7. Purple Loosetrife (Lythrum salicaria) (455kb)
8. Invasive Ants (310kb)

Council's objective for surveillance pests is to collect information and keep records relating to the distribution, the impacts and the spread of these species and to educate the public as to their identification and most appropriate method of control.