“Nyleta Hill has been one of these release sites and monitoring shows plant gall numbers increase over the years and the flies spread to new Siam weed areas, which is a positive outcome for long-term weed control methods. “Since 2018, Council has been working with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) Tropical Weeds Research Centre to release over 7,000 stem-galling flies into Siam Weed infestations at 44 sites across the Cassowary Coast. The gall-fly combats the invasive weed by stunting the growth, reducing flowering and stopping the plant from seeding.Įnvironment portfolio holder, Councillor Jeff Baines said Siam weed, commonly in the Tully, Murray Upper and Johnstone catchment areas, is one of Australia’s most invasive weeds which smothers native plants and can poison livestock. The stem-galling fly is the first to be released within Australia to combat Siam weed. More than 300 stem-galling flies, or Cecidochares Connexa, have been released by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council in the Munro Plains area to combat the spread of the notorious Siam Weed (Chromolaena Odorata).
