Pulu Keeling National Park Management Plan
Pest SpeciesPest Species
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Pest Species
Yellow crazy ants, Anoplolepis gracilipes, exist on the island but as yet have not developed into supercolonies, probably in part due to the absence of scale insects, (the principal source of the honeydew usually fed on by the ants elsewhere). However, a species of scale has recently been accidentally introduced to the southern atoll.
None of the introduced plant species currently present in Pulu Keeling National Park are considered severe threats (Claussen and Slip 2002), but a number of weeds present on the southern atoll are serious environmental threats. These weeds include Mossman River grass, Cenchrus echinatus, para grass, Brachiaria mutica, buffel grass, Cenchrus ciliaris, Siam weed, Chromolaena odorata, and a photosynthetic bacterium. However, at the time of preparing this Management Plan the paw-paw, Carica papaya, is the most common weed present in the Park, but is not a major threat as it is a non-aggressive species. All visitors and equipment coming into the Park are checked to ensure unwanted species from the southern atoll are not introduced to the Park.