when did the prickly pear come to australia
Prickly pears in Australia Prickly pears (mostly Opuntia stricta) were imported into Australia in the 19th century for use as a natural agricultural fence and in an attempt to establish a cochineal dye industry.[1] Many of these, especially the Tiger Pear[citation needed], quickly became widespread invasive species, rendering 40,000 km2 (15,000 sq mi) of farming land unproductive. The moth Cactoblastis cactorum from South America, whose larvae eat prickly pear, was introduced in 1925 and almost wiped out the population. This case is often cited[2] as an example of successful biological pest control. In the early days it was used as a clothing dye.