{
  "id": 13325880,
  "title": "In 1788, prickly pear from the Americas was brought to Australia for hedges and red dye; by the 1920s, it had taken over 24 million hectares of land",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/in-1788-prickly-pear-from-the-americas-was-brought-to-australia-for",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-10T04:17:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times - World News",
    "slug": "hindustan-times-world-news",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/in-1788-prickly-pear-from-the-americas-was-brought-to-australia-for-hedges-and-red-dye-by-the-1920s-it-had-taken-over-24-million-hectares-of-land-101791538462284.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 1788, prickly pear from the Americas was brought to Australia for hedges and red dye. Introduced by Captain Arthur Phillip’s ships, the cactus arrived with cochineal insects for dye production. However, by the 1920s, it had overrun 24.3 million hectares of land in New South Wales and Queensland, rendering it unusable for farming. Initially, the cactus was brought for hedges and fodder during droughts. Despite several Acts and a £10,000 reward, the cactus persisted, spreading unchecked. In 1926, moths were released to combat the invasive cactus. These moths, native to South America, fed on the cactus, killing it within weeks. By 1933, around 50 to 60 percent of infested land in New South Wales had been cleared of the prickly pear. Today, while the cactus no longer poses the same threat, it remains a problem in certain areas, notably in Australia and the Caribbean. The story highlights how introducing a species to a new environment can bring about unforeseen consequences.",
  "summary": "Prickly pear came to Australia in 1788 for red dye. By the 1920s, it had taken over 24 million hectares, before moths released in 1926 began clearing it.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "In Australia, American lantana escaped ornamental gardens and became Queensland’s most invasive weed; grazing costs reached A$121 million in 2007",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/in-australia-american-lantana-escaped-ornamental-gardens-and-became",
        "published": "2026-10-10T04:07:37.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}