Opuntia cochenillifera (tree, shrub, succulent)

Ecology Distribution Management Info Impact Info References and Links Contacts

Interim profile, incomplete information          Management Information Biological: Cochineal (Dactylopius spp.) and Cactoblasts (Cactoblastis spp.) are the two most important biological control agents for prickly pear cacti. The two attack the cactus in a totally different manner. Cochineal species attach to the outside of the plant and sucks the moisture out of the plant. Cactoblasts are black and yellow striped grubs that tunnel into and devour the inside of the plant (North West Weeds 2007). Cactoblastis oviposits by gluing sticks of about 50 to 90 eggs on cactus spines; the gregarious larvae bore into the pads or cladodes, devouring them from the inside (Stiling 2002). Because of its oligophagous feeding habits Cactoblastis has been successful against a whole range of Opuntia species including 11 species of North American origin (Julien and Griffiths 1998, in Stiling 2002).              Location Specific Management Information Ascension Is. Farm reports for the 1890s described efforts to control Opuntia, Psidium and Catharanthus by burning and poisoning because they were invading pasture land.          Management Resources/Links 1. Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR). 2008. Plants of Hawaii: Cactaceae > Opuntia cochenillifera         Summary: Images. Available from: http://www.hear.org/starr/plants/images/species/?q=opuntia+cochenillifera [Accessed 10 December 2008] 2. St. Helena National Trust., 2007. newsletter no.17 - dec 2007 - The Millennium Forest – An Evolving and Maturing Long Term Project         Summary: Available from: http://www.nationaltrust.org.sh/newsletters/no17/newletter-17-dec07-3.html [Accessed 19 January 2009] 3. Stiling, P. 2002. Potential non-target effects of a biological control agent, prickly pear moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in North America, and possible management actions. Biological Invasions 4: 273-281, 2002. 4. Zimmermann, H., H. S. Bloem & H. Klein., 2004. Biology, History, Threat, Surveillance and Control of the Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum. Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture         Summary: Available from: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/faobsc_web.pdf [Accessed 25 October 2008]          Results Page: 1