Invasive plants in Mar Menor area

List of some of the most visible invasive species ?non native species- found in natural parks in the Mar Menor area. Some of this species have been for so long in the landscape that many people have become to think of them as part of the natural landscape:

 -Opuntia sp (Spanish: chumbera, palera) Native to Mexico. Introduction in Spain was already popular in early period of the spanish conquista SXVI. 

Uses:

1)Its the only food source for Cochineal (actylopius coccus) which were used to produce a crimson coloured natural dye and is still used today as the source of the wide used colorant E-120 (designated as cochineal extract, carmine, crimson dye, natural red 4, E120). The carmine dye was used in Central America in the 15th century for coloring fabrics and became an important export good during the colonial period. After synthetic pigments and dyes such as alizarin were invented in the late 19th century, natural-dye production gradually diminished. Now it has become commercially valuable again, although most consumers are unaware that the phrases "cochineal extract", "carmine", "crimson lake", "natural red 4", "C.I. 75470", "E120", or even "natural colouring" refer to a dye that is derived from this insect. One reason for its popularity is that many commercial synthetic red dyes were found to be carcinogenicits

2)Its leaves where used as cattle food specialy in moments of drought

3)The fruits is tasty for human consumption (Spanish: higos chumbos)

4)Its a close growing spiny cactus often planted in rural settlemens as a sort of protective fence around houses

-Agave sp (Spanish common name: Pitera)  Native to Mexico  Some species were used to extract textile fibres such as sisal and in order to produce alcoholic beverages such as pulque and tequila

In wikipedia is a nice list with pictures of all existing agaves http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave

-Yucca alaifolia (Spanish common name: Yuca pinchuda)  Native to an area that extends from North Carolina to Mexico

-Aloe arborescens (Spanish common name: Planta pulpo) Native from South Africa

-Carpobrotus sp (Spanish common name: U?a de gato, U?a de leon) Native to South Africa

-Lantana cámara (Spanish common name: banderita espa?ola) Native to South American tropics

-Acacia sp (Spanish common name: Acacia, Mimosa): Native to Australia. One of the most difficult species to eradicate as they are very prolific and easly grow in barren infertile landscapes resulting from human activities (roadsides, dumping areas of construction debris, etc..) due to its association with nitro-bacteria?s that nest in its roots. Often in symbiotic association with ants which protect the tree from predators in exchange of nectar from its yellow flowers. Can grow at rates of 1m per year to a maximum of 8m.

There are more then 1300 of acacia species, 900 of them native from Australia.

Some examples of Australian acacias with real leaves:

Acacia dealbata (Mimosa plateada)

Acacia baileyana (Mimosa cotamundra)

Acacia decurrens (Mimosa verde)

Acacia melanoxylon (Acacia de madera negra, Aromo australiano, Acacia australiana)

Some exemples of Austalian acacias with widened caquis

Acacia saligna (Acacia llorona)

Acacia cyanophylla (Acacia azul)

Acacia retinodes (Acacia floribunda)

Acacia cyclops (Acacia majorera)

Acacia longifolia (Acacia dorada)

Some examples of African accacias (thorns)

Acacia karroo (Espina dulce)

Acacia raddiana (Talha)

Acacia xanthophloea (Arbol de la fiebre)

Acacia seyal (Seyal)

Some examples of south american acacias:

Acacia farnesiana (Aromo, espino, mimosa espinosa)

-Aptenia sp (Spanish common name: Ombligo de la reina) Native to South Africa (eastern coastal deserts)

-Austrocylindropuntia subulata = Opuntia subulata = Cylindropuntia subulata (Spanish common name: chollas) Native to high elevations in Ecuador and Peru

-Nicotiana glauca   (Spanish common name: tabaco moruno) Native to South Bolivia and North Argentina

-Arundo donax ( Spanish common name: Ca?a) Native to India

-Ricinus Communis (Spanish common name: Ricino, higuera del infierno, higuera infernal, catapucia mayor, higuerillo, árbol del demonio)Native to sudan and Ethipia. Intruduction in Europe dates back to Roman times. Very toxic plant, consumption of its seeds can be lethal to humans.

-Eucalyptus sp. Native to Australia was introduced in france as early as 1794 and in Spain in the XIX century.  This species was planted on a huge scale during the 40', 50' and 60' mainly for use in the paper industry for which it is still of vital importance nowdays . In the Mar Menor region no massive plantations have been done and this three is used mainly for ornamental use. 

Its a toxic plant that poisons the ground around it, very few animals can use it as a source of food......but due to the constat movement of invasive species it was only a matter of time that an insect of the family of curculionidae Gonipterus scutellatus  arrived from Australia to the different localties around the world were eucalyptus were introduced. The presence of endless fields of planted eucalyptus resulted in an explosion of this insect with disastrous economical consecuences for the wood industry....

....scientist were sure that in australia some parasite was controlling the demography of Gonipterus scutellatus and found the parasiting wasp Anaphes nitens which was then massively bred and introduced in the aftected areas ....

.....I am now waiting for somebody to inform me about the existence of some form of parasite (virus, bacteria,.. ) that predates on anaphes nitens.

The Vermin only teaze and pinch Their Foes superior by an Inch. So Nat'ralists observe, a Flea Hath smaller Fleas that on him prey, And these have smaller Fleas to bite 'em, And so proceed ad infinitum (1733 Swift Poems II. 651).