This page is about weed species present at Woodlands Historic Park for which one or more biological control agents have been researched, whether or not any agents have been released. For released agents, the column "effectiveness" in the tables refers to Victoria generally. In most cases it is not known whether the agents are present in the park or how much effect they have. A biological control can never completely eradicate it's host and most weeds with biological controls remain a problem.
Funding for biological control research is mainly applied to weeds with significant agricultural impact, where successful research can have a large economic return. Even so, funding is limited and there are more weeds that could be researched if money was available. Other environmental weeds will never be researched because they are not a problem for agriculture, or are used in agricultural - for example alien grasses and clovers used for pasture.
Weed species for which biological control agents have been released:
- Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)
- Docks (Rumex sp.)
- St Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
- Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides)
- Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
- Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
- Paterson's Curse (Echium plantagineum)
- Prickly Pear (Opuntia stricta)
- Slender Thistles (Carduus pycnocephalus and C. tenuiflorus)
- Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Weed species for which no suitable agents could be found:
- Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum)
- Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma)
- Rat's Tail Grass (Sporobolus africanus)
Weed species for which biological control research is in limbo:
- Chilean Needle Grass (Nassella neesiana)
- One-leaf Cape Tulip and Two-leaf Cape Tulip (Moraea flaccida and M. miniata)
- African Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum)
- Tall Fleabane (Conyza bonariensis)