The regions of infestation of wool by Noogoora burr (Xanthium strumarium), their climates and the biological control of the weed

Abstract

The distribution in Australia of a vegetable fault in wool caused by Noogoora burr, Xanthium stumarium, is outlined.

The climates of the region in Australia where the burr produces maximum contamination of wool and where it is of the greatest economic importance are compared with the climates of North America (Texas) and the Indian subcontinent (New Delhi) from where the cerambycids, Mecas saturnina and Nupserha vexator, have been introduced respectively as biological control agents for the weed. The comparisons suggest that neither agent is climatically pre-adapted to the region in Australia where Noogoora burr has the greatest economic importance. On the other hand, a pyralid moth, Oeobia vevbascalis, from Pakistan is well adapted to the climates of the regions affected.