Southland Pest Hub

Welcome to the Southland Pest Hub, your go-to guide for advice on pest animals and weeds in Southland. To start, enter the name of a pest or weed in the search bar, or select from the tags below. Results will load automatically at the bottom of the page.

African club moss
African club moss
African club moss is a creeping ground cover fern that spreads quickly, preventing seedling regeneration.
African feather grass
African feather grass
African feather grass is a perennial grass that forms large clumps up to two metres tall. From November to April, it produces long, thin flower heads.
Asiatic knotweed
Asiatic knotweed
Asiatic (Japanese) knotweed is a thicket-forming herb that can grow to 2m tall. It has zig-zagging stems and red-purple shoots which appear early in...
Banana passionfruit
Banana passionfruit
Vigorous, evergreen, high-climbing vines grows up to 10 metres high.
Asian clam
Asian clam
Asian clam occurs in estuaries and brackish waters, particularly in mud, sand, peat and clay surfaces.
Asian paddle crab
Asian paddle crab
Asian paddle crabs are relatively large swimming crabs with paddle-like hind legs.
Chinese mitten crab
Chinese mitten crab
Chinese mitten crabs are usually light-brown to olive green shell, which reaches up to 10 cm across.
Australian droplet tunicate
Australian droplet tunicate
The Eudistoma sea squirt, also known as the Australian droplet tunicate, is a type of sea squirt. It forms large colonies that attach to hard surfaces
European shore crab
European shore crab
Adult specimen shells can reach widths of up to 8 cm, with five spines or spikes on each side of shell.
Undaria seaweed
Undaria seaweed
The Asian seaweed Undaria pinnatifida (Undaria) is an invasive seaweed which thrives in our marine environment.
Northern Pacific seastar
Northern Pacific seastar
The Northern Pacific seastar has five arms, which have pointed, and often up-turned tips. The arms join onto a central disc and are covered by clumps...
Japanese mantis shrimp
Japanese mantis shrimp
The Japanese mantis shrimp are light grey and can grow up to 185mm long (18.5cm).
Mediterranean fanworm
Mediterranean fanworm
Mediterranean fanworm is a large, tube-dwelling worm. It is the largest fanworm in New Zealand with its body measuring up to 20mm wide and 800mm long.
Clubbed tunicate
Clubbed tunicate
Styela sea squirts have a long, club-shaped body on a short, tough stalk. Its surface is tough, leathery, rumpled, and knobbly, ranging in colour...
Pyura sea squirt
Pyura sea squirt
The Pyura sea squirt has a sack-like body with a brown, or reddish-brown, leathery skin. There is sometimes sand and shell material incorporated into...
Yellow flag iris
Yellow flag iris
Yellow flag iris is an aquatic plant that grows as leafy clumps up to 2m tall. The sword like leaves emerge in fans from a reddish purplish base....
Wilding conifers
Wilding conifers
Conifers are woody plants that have cones instead of flowers. They include cedars, pines, firs, cypress, larches, and spruces.  Wilding conifer is...
Velvet groundsel
Velvet groundsel
Velvet groundsel is a large shrub or bush up to 2m tall.  It has round, lobed, hairy leaves that are up to 20cm across and feel soft and velvety to...
Tench
Tench
Tench were first introduced to New Zealand in 1867 as a sports fish. They grow to a large size in New Zealand, and fish over 2kg in weight are not...
Spartina
Spartina
Spartina is an estuarine grass that grows in clumps up 1.5 metres tall.
Snake-neck turtle
Snake-neck turtle
Endemic to Queensland, snake-neck turtles are a semi-aquatic species, preferring slow moving water such as wetlands, lakes, dams and ponds. They are...
Rook
Rook
You must notify the Environment Southland if you think you have seen this pest.
Rat
Rat
There are three species of rat in Southland; Norway rat, ship rat and kiore. <br/> Norway rats are the largest of the three rat species. They are...
Rainbow lorikeet
Rainbow lorikeet
Rainbow lorikeets are long tailed, brightly coloured parrots that are about 30cm long. They have a bright red beak and eyes, a blue head and belly,...
Rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are usually grey-brown in colour, with other colour varieties occasionally occurring in the wild.  They may live in communal warrens...
Purple loosestrife
Purple loosestrife
Purple loosestrife is an erect, summer-green perennial herb that grows 1-2m tall.  The woody stems are square in cross-section.  It has narrow leaves...
Tree privet
Tree privet
There are four species of privet in New Zealand: tree privet ( Ligustrum lucidum), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), privet (Ligustrum...
Possum
Possum
Possums are furry animals of medium to stout build with thick, bushy tails.  Their bodies are 38-45cm long (65-95cm long including the tail) and...
Periwinkle
Periwinkle
Periwinkle is a scrambling groundcover plant that resembles a vine.  The trailing stems can grow more than 2m long and take root where they come in...
Perch
Perch
Perch are olive green-grey, with six or more dark vertical bands across their sides.  The pelvic and anal fins and lower half of the tail are bright...
Old man’s beard
Old man’s beard
Old man’s beard is a deciduous climbing vine that grows up to 20m tall.  It has woody stems with six prominent ribs and pale bark that rubs off...
Nassella tussock
Nassella tussock
Nassella tussock is a tufted, perennial, tussock grass with fine, tightly rolled, light green or yellowish-green leaves.
Stoat
Stoat
Stoats, Ferrets and Weasels belong to a group of animals known as Mustelids . <br/> Stoats Are the most common of the three mustelids, they grow...
Monkey musk
Monkey musk
Monkey musk is a soft herb that grows up to 60cm tall, forming bright-green leafy clumps or large masses. It has thick stems that are occasionally...
Koi carp
Koi carp
Koi carp are an ornamental strain of common carp. Their colour is variable, often a blotchy pattern, which can include black, red, orange, gold and...
Himalayan honeysuckle
Himalayan honeysuckle
Himalayan honeysuckle is a shrub that grows up to 2m tall (it is not a vine, like Japanese honeysuckle).
Greater bindweed
Greater bindweed
Greater bindweed is a scrambling, twining vine. From October to May it produces white, trumpet-like flowers that are up to 9cm in diameter.
Gorse
Gorse
Gorse is a deep-rooted, woody perennial shrub that can grow up to 4m tall. It has densely spined branches and is woody when mature. Gorse has bright...
Giant knotweed
Giant knotweed
Giant multiple stemmed thicket-forming perennial shrub (<2-4m high)
Giant hogweed
Giant hogweed
Giant hogweed is a perennial herb that can grow up to 6m tall and has large serrated leaves up to 50cm long.
German ivy
German ivy
German Ivy is a scrambling or climbing vine that can reach heights of 5m.
Feral pig
Feral pig
Feral pigs are generally smaller and more muscular than domestic pigs.  They are usually black but they can be ginger, sandy brown, white, grey or...
Feral goat
Feral goat
Feral goats vary in size and colour, and have a 'blocky' appearance, with stout strong legs designed for climbing.
English ivy
English ivy
English ivy is an evergreen climber that can spread along the ground or climb trees, walls and other structures.
Eel grass
Eel grass
Eel grass is a submerged, bottom-rooted freshwater plant. It produces long, thick, strap-like leaves that are up to 3m long and 0.5-5cm wide.
Darwin's ant
Darwin's ant
Darwin's ant worker ants are about 2 mm long. They have a dark-brown head but the rest of the body and the legs are light brown.
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster
Cotoneasters are long lived, evergreen shrubs up to approximately 3m tall.
Cats - feral and stray
Cats - feral and stray
Feral and stray cats are usually short-haired and slightly built, with a large head and sharp features.
Cape honey flower
Cape honey flower
Cape honey flower is a clump-forming shrub, with stout, rough, hollow stems and a suckering root system.
Buddleia
Buddleia
Buddleia is an invasive, woody and deciduous ornamental shrub that grows up to 3m tall.
Brown bullhead catfish
Brown bullhead catfish
Brown bullhead catfish are a dark brown to olive green colour with paler sides and bellies.
Broom
Broom
Broom is an upright, many-branched, almost leafless woody shrub, up to 3m tall.
Parrots feather
Parrots feather
Parrot's feather is a submerged, bottom-rooted perennial aquatic herb.  The top 10cm of foliage can be emergent, standing above the water. Sprawling...
Reed sweet grass
Reed sweet grass
Reed sweet grass is an erect, clump forming, perennial grass that reaches almost 2m tall.  Tall leaves grow up to 2cm wide.  Creeping rhizomes can...
Hare
Hare
Hares are easily distinguished from rabbits. They are much larger, with long, black-tipped ears and large muscular hindquarters.
Argentine ant
Argentine ant
Argentine ant: worker ants are only 2–3 mm long and are a uniform honey-brown colour.
Pampas grass
Pampas grass
Pampas is a perennial, tussock-like grass.  There are two species present in Southland ( Cortaderia jubata and Cortaderia selloana ).  Both have...
Nodding thistle
Nodding thistle
Nodding thistle is a biennial plant that grows from over-wintering rosettes and has a long, fleshy taproot.  The flowering stems grow up to 1.5m tall...
Ragwort
Ragwort
Ragwort is a member of the daisy family.  It is an erect, annual to perennial herb and usually grows to 45-70cm tall, but can reach 1.6m high.  It...
Lagarosiphon (Oxygen Weed)
Lagarosiphon (Oxygen Weed)
Oxygen weed, lagarosiphon, is an aquatic plant that is a submerged, bottom-rooting perennial that grows up to 5 metres tall. The spirally arranged...
Magpie
Magpie
This familiar large songbird is similar in size to a crow or a New Zealand pigeon.  The white-backed form tyrannica is the largest of the...
Myna
Myna
The myna is a tropical bird first introduced into New Zealand in the 1870s.  Mynas did not appear north of the Waikato until the 1950s.  Once they...
Boneseed
Boneseed
Bushy, semi-woody, many branched shrub or small tree to 2-3 m with ribbed and woolly young stems that become smooth as they mature.
Japanese honeysuckle
Japanese honeysuckle
Vigorous evergreen (semi-evergreen in cold districts) climber with long, tough, wiry stems that twine clockwise, are purplish and hairy when young,...
Tradescantia
Tradescantia
This plant has fleshy, dark green, shiny leaves that are 3-6cm long, oval with pointed tips on hairless, creeping stems. It produces white flowers...
Common wasp
Common wasp
Common wasps, Vespula vulgaris, are very similar in appearance to German wasps.
German wasp
German wasp
The German Wasp, Vespula germanica, ranges in length of 12 – 17 mm long with a blackish brown abdomen and bright yellow st
Ferret
Ferret
Ferrets are the largest of the three Mustelidae species present in New Zealand and are about 48-56cm long, including the tail.
Weasel
Weasel
Weasels are the smallest and least common of the three mustelids in New Zealand.
Carpet sea squirt
Carpet sea squirt
Carpet sea squirts grow attached to hard surfaces.  The carpet sea squirt is leathery or spongey and light mustard in colour.  It can look like a...
Egeria
Egeria
Bottom-rooted submerged perennial aquatic herb. Stems can be more than 3m in length.
Hornwort
Hornwort
Hornwort can grow from a single cell! this makes it particually invasive as it can be easily tansfered between water bodies.
Dead man's fingers
Dead man's fingers
Dead man's fingers is a large, branching, dark-green seaweed.  It can reach lengths of 1 metre and can weigh up to 3.5kg.  It can look like a fuzzy...
Asian date mussel
Asian date mussel
The Asian mussel, Musculista senhousia (aka Arcuatula senhousia), is a small saltwater mussel with a greenish colour to its outer layer.
Blackberry
Blackberry
Blackberry is a scrambling, very thorny, semi-erect shrub that is usually deciduous, with large root crowns and long suckers. Stems are usually...
Chinese privet
Chinese privet
Chinese privet is a shrub or small tree that grows to 5+m tall.  It is evergreen or semi-deciduous with distinctive warty lumps on stems and densely...
Field horsetail
Field horsetail
Field horsetail is an erect, colony-forming, primitive fern-ally that grows up to 80cm high and dies back in winter.  The plants produce two types of...
Sycamore
Sycamore
Sycamore is a large tree up to 20m tall, with a smooth trunk.  It is deciduous but leaf fall is moderately protracted.  Leaves are five-lobed, up to...
Velvetleaf
Velvetleaf
Velvetleaf is a summer-growing annual plant that can grow up to 1.5m tall or more. It has large, heart-shaped leaves, which are soft and velvety
Smilax
Smilax
Scrambling or twining perennial with dense clusters of white, fleshy, tuberous roots and twisted, thin, wiry, branched green stems to 3m.
Feral deer
Feral deer
Deer are ruminant mammals.  Males grow antlers in spring and shed them in late winter.  There are several species of deer present in Southland...
Chilean rhubarb
Chilean rhubarb
Gunnera is a giant, rhubarb-like herb with huge prickly leaves that can reach up to 2.5m wide. The plant has sausage-like flower spikes that are up...
Red-eared slider turtle
Red-eared slider turtle
Red-eared sliders are commonly sold as hatchlings, at a carapace length of approximately 4cm. Adults grow up to 30cm long but are more commonly...
Indian ring-necked parakeet
Indian ring-necked parakeet
Indian ring-neck parakeets are 38-42 cm in length (head to tail), typically with a green body.  Colour variations are available due to selective...
Orfe
Orfe
In Europe, wild orfe are usually greyish brown with silver bellies. However, the variety of orfe present in New Zealand (the golden orfe) is derived...
Bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is the common name of various species of tubular grass introduced to New Zealand from East Asia. They are tall and erect with smooth stems....
Wallaby
Wallaby
Wallabies (Bennetts) are small marsupial animals that look like miniature kangaroos and were liberated into the South Canterbury area in 1874.  They...
Canada geese
Canada geese
Canada Geese were first introduced to New Zealand in 1876.  While they established well in regions throughout the South Island, it wasn't until the...
Gambusia (mosquito fish)
Gambusia (mosquito fish)
Gambusia are a small silvery fish found in the North Island
Bengal cat
Bengal cat
Bengal cats are an artificially created hybrid between the Asian leopard cat and the domestic cat. They were first introduced into New Zealand before...
Himalayan tahr
Himalayan tahr
Tahr are a large goat like animal native to India and Nepal and are largely found in New Zealands South Island, Central alps. <br/> Tahr are...
House mouse
House mouse
House mouse are small, omnivorous generalists that reach approximately 30 g in weight and measure around 115 mm in length (without tail). They have a...
Hedgehog
Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are nocturnal insectivores. Their back and sides are completely covered with spines and they roll into a prickly ball when disturbed, or...
Chamois
Chamois
Chamois are a goat like animal native to Europe. Males are approximately 25-40kg in weight with females approximately 20-30kg. <br/> Their colour...
Chinchilla
Chinchilla
The Chinchilla is a native of South America. A burrowing member of the rodent family, it originates form the Andes, where it lives in colonies. Its...
Cattle tick
Cattle tick
Ticks are blood sucking external parasites. The common cattle tick Haemaphysalis longicornis favours cattle but they are not completely host specific...
Aluminium plant
Aluminium plant
Aluminium plant has square, purplish stems which creep along the ground (runners) and are densely hairy. Pleasant smelling, mint-like oval leaves (30...
Bomarea
Bomarea
Bomarea is a shade tolerant, multi-stemmed vine that arises from short underground rhizomes, which bear numerous tubers.
Chilean needle grass
Chilean needle grass
Chilean needle grass is a tufted perennial plant growing to one metre in the absence of grazing. Its leaves are bright green and harsh to the touch....
Boxthorn
Boxthorn
Boxthorn is a densely branched, erect, evergreen shrub that grows to to 6 m tall. It has tough, woody stems alternately branched at square angles,...
Contorta pine
Contorta pine
Contorta pine is a small to medium sized pine tree, usually with twisted branches and paired needles.
Ice plant
Ice plant
This low-growing, mat forming perennial has fleshy, succulent leaves.
Montbretia
Montbretia
Stiff, leafy, clump-forming evergreen or summergreen perennial with underground rhizomes.
Montpellier broom
Montpellier broom
Originally from Europe it is u sually evergreen shrub to 2.5 m tall with round, ribbed and softly hairy twigs, and ridged, woody, grey-brown stems....
Darwin's barberry
Darwin's barberry
Darwin’s barberry is an evergreen, spiny, yellow-wooded shrub which grows to less than four metres tall.
purple pampas
purple pampas
Originating from South America, it is a l arge, clump-forming grass up to 3 m+. Very hairy leaf base with no white waxy surface. Leaves have a wide...
Russell lupin
Russell lupin
Originating from North America, this is a perennial herb growing to 1m with erect, hairy stems that branch from the base.
Giant buttercup
Giant buttercup
Giant buttercup is a perennial plant up to a metre tall with multiple branches.
Stonecrop
Stonecrop
This is a low-growing, succulent, evergreen, mat-forming herb (<10cm high) with fibrous roots and fleshy, round, creeping stems.
Sweet briar
Sweet briar
Originating from Europe and North Africa, this is a deciduous, woody shrub which grows up to 3m tall.
Tree lupin
Tree lupin
Originally from California it is a short-lived, perennial shrub to 2-3 m high with deep taproot and tough, branching stems.
Heather
Heather
Heather is a bushy, evergreen tough shrub with woody, wiry stems and densely hairy young shoots which become hairless as they mature.
Tutsan
Tutsan
Originally from South and Western Europe, Tutsan it is a small, perennial shrub growing to 1.5m with fibrous roots and no rhizomes.
Siberian lyme grass
Siberian lyme grass
Siberian lyme grass is a perennial grass with stout rhizomes and very robust tufts, growing up to 1.5m tall. The leaves are strongly ribbed and are...
Mountain pine
Mountain pine
Mountain pine is a small-to-medium multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with dark brownish-grey bark, which peels in small thin flakes.
Rough horsetail
Rough horsetail
Erect, colony-forming, summer-green perennial, primitive fern-ally to 2m tall with extensive, deep, freely branching rhizomes. Ridged, hollow stems...
Indian knotweed
Indian Knotweed is a multi-stemmed, thicket-forming, rhizomatous perennial shrub. Stems are slender and hollow and zig-zag from leaf node to leaf...
Himalayan knotweed
Himalayan knotweed
Himalayan knotweed is a multi-stemmed, thicket-forming, perennial shrub. Stems are slender and hollow and zig-zag from leaf node to leaf node, up to...
Hawthorn
Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a deciduous shrub or small tree that grows up to 10m tall with much-branched stems that are hairless, reddish-brown when young, but...
Spanish heath
Spanish heath
Spanish heath is a brittle and erect woody perennial shrub growing up to two metres high, establishing in habitats from near sea level up to 1,000...
Crack willow
Crack willow
Crack Willow is a deciduous tree growing to 25m tall. It has a spreading crown and multiple trunks. Bright red rootlets are present when the plant is...
Grey willow
Grey willow
Grey willow is a small tree growing up to 7m high, although trees commonly grow to 1-2m high. The leaves are shiny on the upper surface, and covered...
Silver birch
Tree that grows to about 25m in height, it has semi-drooping branches. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia. Bark smooth at first, silvery-white...
Scotch thistle
Scotch thistle
Scotch thistle is a tall biennial thistle, forming a rosette of leaves in the first year, and a flowering stem 1-2.5 m tall in the second year. The...
Angelica
Angelica
Angelica pachycarpa is part of the parsely family, and was brought into New Zealand as an ornamental garden plant.
Bittersweet
Bittersweet
BIttersweet is a scrambling or sprawling, vine-like perennial (plant that lives two or more years). It can grow to 2 m tall with branched, usually...
Holly
Holly
Holly is an evergreen, shrub or small tree (to 12 m tall). Glossy dark green leaves (3-10 cm long) alternate along the stem, are paler below, and...
Rowan
Rowan
Rowan is a tree that grows up to 8m high, with an erect trunk and spreading branches; young shoots are covered in soft hairs, sometimes densely so,...
Californian thistle
Californian thistle
Californian thistle is one of New Zealand's most common thistles, and is most frequently seen on roadsides, rough ground, and grassland. It has...
Hemlock
Hemlock
The leaf is made up of sub-divided leaflets makes it look like a fern in the vegetative state. The stems of hemlock leaves have no hairs and also...
Cherry laurel
Cherry laurel
Cherry laurel is an evergreen shrub or tree, which grows up to 10m tall, however on rare occasions it has been documented to grow as high as 18m. It...
Hawkweed
Hawkweed
Hawkweed species are perennial herbs that form mats of tight, interconnected rosettes with thick underground root systems, and often with...
Green daphne laurel
Green daphne laurel
Green Daphne is a glossy, evergreen shrub (up to 0.5-1.5 m tall) with flexible branches that can droop to the ground and take root, and bark that is...
Spindle tree
Spindle tree
Spindle trees are a deciduous shrub or small tree to 6m tall with smooth, grey bark and young branches that are square, green and smooth. Paired oval...
Barberry
Barberry
Common barberry is an evergreen or semi-deciduous, spiny, yellow-wooded shrub to 4-5 m (occasionally 7m) tall. Stems are tough and woody, with...
Chilean guava
Chilean guava
Chilean guava is an aromatic bushy shrub, 1-2 m high. Shoots often reddish when young, later deep brown, densely clothed in short hairs at first. <br...
Chilean fire bush
Chilean fire bush
Chilean Fire Bush is a shrub or small tree can reach up to 30 ft (10 m) and more.  This tree has an evergreen to semi-deciduous foliage and striking...
Mayten tree, Chilean mayten, Mayten
Mayten tree, Chilean mayten, Mayten
Maytenus boaria is a tree that can grow up to 20 m. The trunk is straight and can have a diameter of 80 cm.  The leaves are small, alternate,...
Collomia
Collomia
Collomia is an annual erect herb or groundcover that is native to western North America. It grows up to one metre tall but can vary in height from 10...
Chilean flame creeper
Chilean flame creeper
Chilean flame creeper is a perennial vine with vibrant red flowers from November onwards, followed by deep blue fruits that are eaten by birds.
Exotic Caulerpa
Exotic Caulerpa
Bright green seaweed with horizontal runners that reach up to nine meters.
Scentless Chamomile
Scentless Chamomile
Scentless chamomile is an annual weed found all over New Zealand.