Removal of Moth Vine

10 May 2016

REMOVAL OF MOTH VINE (aka FALSE CHOKO)
by Greg Lukes

Moth Plant (Common Moth Vine, False Choko)
Araujia sericifera
Family: Asclepidiaceae

Araujia sericifera in Australia is considered a weed. It is a rapid growing vine with oval leaves, sometimes with a slightly heart-shaped base, and a white underside, growing in opposite pairs. The leaf upper surface is a dull dark green, not glossy. Milky sap is produced from cuts or other damage. Showy white shortly tubular flowers are held in the leaf axils. Seeds have a tuft of hairs to assist dispersal, and are packed tightly into a leathery green choko-like capsule, which splits when ripe.

It is found widespread in a variety of habitats, but most common in moist soils along rivers. Impacts native bushland by climbing over shrubs and small trees, smothering and breaking them down. Also spreads over the ground, smothering native groundcover plants. Seeds are readily spread on the wind and in water.

Control 
CAUTION The milky sap is an irritant to the skin and eyes. Wear gloves when handling this plant and avoid getting the sap in the mouth or eyes.
Young plants are easily hand-pulled if growing in loose soil, or can be dug out. Large plants can be treated by the scrape and paint method.
When removing any species of vines, be careful about pulling them down, as this can damage the supporting plant. Generally, they are better left to die off and break up in place, unless this would involve leaving seed pods in the canopy. Try to control vines (and other weeds) before seed has formed to avoid this problem, but if fruits are present (even if they are still green), they should be collected as carefully as possible and disposed of properly.

Native Look-alikes 
The flowers and choko-like fruits are distinctive but there are some native climbers with similar leaves.
Milk vines (Marsdenia rostrata and M. flavescens) also have milky sap and opposite leaves. However, the upper surface is shiny and the underside pale green in M. rostrata and yellowish in M. flavescens. Flowers are smaller and yellow, and seed pods long and narrow. (Found from Gold Coast down to Victoria.) Common silkpod (Parsonsia straminea) has similar leaves which are dull green above and paler green below, yellow flowers and long cigar-shaped pods. The small native vine Tylophora barbata has clear sap, opposite pale green leaves, and the rarely produced flowers are small and dark purple.
Article and further images can be found on this website
www.esc.nsw.gov.au/living-in/about/our-natural-environment/introduced-plants-and-animals/weeds/weed-profiles/moth-plant-araujia-sericifera,-formerly-a

Video on moth vine removal
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5ncXvKSeFc&feature=related

Local note. We found some seeds along the track that unfortunately had recently been dispersed by the wind. Larger plants growing in the loose soil can also be dug out carefully lifting out all the main roots which can travel for metres just below the surface. Monitor the area for reshoots within 1-3 months after removal.

The 'white fluff' shown on the track are Moth Vine Seeds that have dispersed in the wind.

A close up of the fluffy moth vine seeds

Here you can see the actual seed within the white fluff of the moth vine plant

Fruits of the Red Olive Plum

6 May 2016

Red Olive Plum (australe var.australe) fruiting at the Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve, Highfields.

Red Olive Plum (australe var.australe)

Iconic marks of the Red-Triangle Slug on a Sydney Blue Gum

05th May 2016

RED TRIANGLE SLUG MARKS ON A SYDNEY BLUE GUM TREE IN CHARLES & MOTEE ROGERS BUSHLAND RESERVE, HIGHFIELDS.

It was only in the last year that I learnt that these iconic marks, often seen on Sydney Blue Gum Trees on the Darling Downs, were from the Red-Triangle Slug.  Thanks to Robert Ashdown, I now can recognize these marks easily, and am noticing them all over the Toowoomba Region. 

Today, I was thrilled to see a large Sydney Blue Gum Tree with the Red-triangle Slug marks on it in the Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve.  It was pleasing to know that these iconic looking invertebrates are living within our treasured suburban bushland reserve.  I look forward to going back on a damp night to have a better look for the slugs themselves.

The Red-Triangle Slug (Triboniophorus graeffei) is in the mollusc family and is Australia's largest native land slug. The distinctive red triangle on its back contains the breathing pore. The Red Triangle Slug is usually found grazing on microscopic algae growing on the surface of smooth-barked eucalypt trees, leaving behind scalloped tracks as it goes. (Information source: Australian Museum)

For further information about the Red Triangle Slug's of the Toowoomba Region, I suggest viewing Rob Ashdown's Blog here.

J.Gray

Red Triangle Slug marks on a Sydney Blue Gum at Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve, Highfields. 05/05/16

Web of the Leaf-curling Spider

05th May 2016

LEAF-CURLING SPIDERS AT CHARLES & MOTEE ROGERS BUSHLAND RESERVE, HIGHFIELDS.

The Leaf-curling Spiders (genus Phonognatha) are day-active orb weaving spiders that protect themselves from predators by sitting inside a silk seamed, curled leaf. At the moment, there are plenty of these marvelous looking web homes within the Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve. They are easy to miss and many people won't be aware that they are in-fact a speciality home to one clever little spider.

Leaf Curling Spider at Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve 05/05/16

OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT LEAF CURLING SPIDERS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM:

Leaf-curling Spiders hoist a leaf from the ground and, using silk threads, curl it to form a protective cylinder, silked shut at the top and open at the hub.. They then sit in this cylinder with only their legs showing, feeling for the vibrations of a captured insect. The curled leaf protects them from birds and parasitic wasps. Sometimes other objects, such as snail shells (which come ready-curled), are used. In P. graeffei this leaf is suspended just above the centre of the web, but may be placed higher in other species. Juvenile spiders start off by bending over a small green leaf, but eventually graduate to larger dead leaves.

Rogers Reserve a different view from a 12 year old with an iphone

5th May 2016

ROGERS RESERVE - A DIFFERENT VIEW - THROUGH THE EYE OF A 12 YEAR OLD WITH AN IPHONE

It is always interesting to see what grabs someones attention, and how they see the world.  These photos below are taken all on an iphone by a Year 7 Student on site, at the Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve, Highfields.

J.G.

Common Bronzewing - Highfields

05th May 2016

COMMON BRONZEWING - CHARLES & MOTEE ROGERS BUSHLAND RESERVE HIGHFIELDS

This beautiful Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) stayed perched in the sun, long enough for me to take a few photographs of this usually easily frightened bird.  Common Bronzewing's call the Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve home, but rarely do we get a chance to get a decent photograph of them.

J.G.

Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) Highfields (Photo J. Gray)

INFORMATION FROM BIRDS IN BACKYARDS:

Common Bronzewings are medium-sized, heavily built pigeons. The male has a yellow-white forehead and pink breast. Both sexes have a clear white line below and around the eye and patches of green, blue and red in the wing, characteristic of all bronzewings. The Common Bronzewing is a cautious pigeon, and rarely allows close approach. If startled, it flies away with a clatter, keeping low to the ground while moving in a steady, direct manner. Young Common Bronzewings are duller and browner than the adults. The metallic wing patch is absent or not easily seen.

Feeding:

The Common Bronzewing feeds on seeds and other vegetable matter. The birds feed on the ground and in small parties. These small groups need to drink frequently, and visit waterholes during either the day or night.

Breeding:

Common Bronzewings build an untidy nest of sticks and twigs. It is normally placed low down in a tree or bush, but may be up to 20 m above the ground. The creamy-white eggs are incubated by both parents. Both adults also share the care of the young birds, which are born naked and helpless and are completely dependent on their parents. Bronzewings, like other pigeons, secrete a special milk-like substance from their crop, which is fed to the young chicks.

J.G.

White-headed Pigeons witnessed at Rogers Reserve

5th May 2016

WHITE-HEADED PIGEONS AT ROGERS RESERVE

Three native White-Headed Pigeons (Columba leucomela) were witnessed at the Charles & Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve on the afternoon of Thursday 5th May 2016.  The sirens of the bush, the Noisy Miners alerted us to their location, high in the gum trees on the north eastern side of the reserve. It wasn't long before the pigeons moved onto thicker trees on the western side, albeit with the noisy miners in tow.  Unfortunately no photographs were taken due to their quick retreat and high habitat location.

This is a new bird record for the wildlife list at the reserve and has been added to Eremaea eBird data mapping.

Further information about the White-headed Pigeon can be found here.

J.G