Did you know that little beetles with big appetites could be the key to combating problematic invasive weeds? A nature-based solution to tackle one of the stickiest problems for land managers in SEQ.

		Beetles, biological warriors Cat’s Claw Creeper Jewel Beetles and Madeira Vine Beetles are being used as biological control agents to gradually weaken target weeds, reducing seed production, and creating space for native vegetation to thrive.
		Assisting land managers This program supports land managers by prioritising capacity building and incentives to preserve native vegetation in the Lockyer Uplands and Little Liverpool Range.
		Native vegetation conservation We are tackling challenges from invasive vines like Cat's Claw Creeper and Madeira Vine. These vines jeopardise native vegetation, risking biodiversity and habitat loss.

Beetles to the rescue!

Our project team is currently out on the front line deploying biological control agents, in the form of beetles, on project sites in the Lockyer Uplands and Little Liverpool Range.

They are targeting problematic invasive species Cat’s Claw Creeper (Dolichandra unuguis-cati) and Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia), which under the right conditions, grow inexhaustibly, smothering trees, shrubs, and other understorey species within their reach.

Enter the Cat’s Claw Creeper Jewel Beetle (Hedwigiella jureceki) and the Madeira vine Beetle (Plectonycha correntina).

These hungry little critters are part of an integrated solution to undermine the weeds strength over time. This novel solution is music to the ears of land managers who have been struggling with these difficult invasive weeds for a long time.

Invasive weeds threatening native vegetation

Categorised as transformer species, the impacts of Madeira Vine and Cat’s Claw Creeper infestations on native vegetation is so severe that they can lead to irreversible transformation and disruption to ecosystems. Both are commonly found in disturbed areas where they have been introduced as garden plants, then escaping to invade vulnerable riparian vegetation and semi-evergreen vine thicket.

The loss of native vegetation increases landscape vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change, and reduces biodiversity and available habitat for native insects, birds, and animals.

Using the beetles is part of a multi-control approach. While some infestations can be brought under control with a careful mix of physical and chemical control techniques, the very nature of the smothering weed can make it difficult to access the infested sites or too labour intensive or expensive to tackle with physical control measures, and the introduction of biological control can be very beneficial.

Where conventional control methods can be expensive, difficult, and very labour intensive, costs associated with biological control raising and release remain relatively low.

Since the start of December 2023, there have been 8,500 Cats Claw Creeper Jewel Beetles and 3,300 Madeira Vine Beetles released across the Lockyer Uplands and Little Liverpool Range.
This was needed when recent wet weather in the third La Nina events led to the rampant growth of vine weeds in some areas.

Healthy Land & Water, with support from the Queensland Government’s Natural Resource Recovery Program (NRRP), has teamed up with community groups and local governments to introduce biocontrol agents in large numbers to affected sites in the Lockyer Uplands and Little Liverpool Range.

This is how they do it

The beetle actively targets the weeds, gradually undermining the plant's strength over time.

Whilst the beetles used to control these obnoxious weeds will never completely eliminate an infestation on their own, they still offer a helping hand in managing the weeds rate of spread and provide an opportunity for native vegetation to rebound and ultimately surpass the weed in competition.

The main benefits of using these beetles include:

• Slow growth of target weed through the beetle’s defoliation of the plant throughout their life stages.
• Defoliation of target weed further reduces impact on native vegetation by reducing weed plant weight and allowing light to pass through blanketed infestations.
• Beetle populations are mobile and disperse during warmer seasons.
• No threat to native vegetation

Going local

Healthy Land & Water purchases beetles from the Gympie & District Landcare Group. By backing these community groups, we guarantee the upkeep and efficiency of the rearing facilities. This support enables the groups to sustain their growth and consistently deploy agents to combat infestations beyond our project area.

The increased release of beetles enhances our prospects of impeding the proliferation of harmful weeds that pose a threat to our creek banks.

Making it happen

This project has been made possible with support from the Natural Resource Recovery Program (NRRP) funded by the Queensland Government. This program prioritises capacity building activities and targeted incentives to help improve and preserve important native vegetation, enhance the state of natural assets, and reinforce landscape resilience.

Acknowledgments
This project is funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Recovery Program (NRRP) and delivered in collaboration with Lockyer Uplands Catchments Inc. Little Liverpool Range Initiative, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Ipswich City Council and Noosa & District Landcare Group.