Cactoblastis cactorum, a phycitid moth, has been used with considerable success as a biological control agent against several different cactus species in many parts of the world, including opuntia stricta in kruger national park knp, south africa. Pdf the invasive cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum, poses a threat to opunitoid cacti species of north america. Life cycle hosts include cactus species such as pricklypear. The south american cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg lepidoptera. This ancient photographic record on the left is one example of the amazing way cactoblastis cactoblastis cactorum chewed its way through tens of thousands of hectares of prickly pear infested grazing country in inland queensland and new south wales. The biodiversity heritage library works collaboratively to make biodiversity literature openly available to the world as part of a global biodiversity community.
Pdf biotic constraints on cactoblastis cactorum berg host use in. The association between the presence or absence of c. On eclosion, the larvae crawl from the eggstick onto the cladode or pad and burrow into it, usually within a few. Apr 01, 2010 the cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg lepidoptera. The female lays a long chain of eggs at the end of a cactus spine. It was described by emile louis ragonot in 1901 and is known from argentina, peru, and brazil. The female cactoblastis cactorum lays her eggs in the form of a chain, the first egg is attached to the end of a spine or spicule, and succeeding eggs average 75, and up to 140 or more are stacked coinlike to form an eggstick.
All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum, is native to argentina, paraguay, uruguay and southern brazil. Cactoblastis cactorum an overview sciencedirect topics. Robyn rose emergency and domestic programs plant protection and quarantine animal and plant health inspection service u.
Cactoblastis cactorum berg the cactus moth has become a serious threat to the high diversity of opuntia prickly pear cactus species and throughout the world, both native and cultivated iaea 2002. A cooperative effort to detect and test containment of the cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg on the us gulf coast joel floyd1, kenneth a. Pyralidae, has a long history in biological controlfirst as a textbook example of successful classical biological control, and more recently, as a warning of the perils associated with unintentional consequences of biological control agents raghu and walton 2007. Preliminary assessment of the potential impacts and risks of. It was introduced from argentina into australia in the mid 1920s for the biological control of invasive and nonnative opuntia. Cactoblastis cactorum berg, 1885 south american cactus moth. Effect of rearing cactoblastis cactorum on an artificial diet. Cactoblastis cactorum georgia invasive species task force. Spring 2004 news of the lepidopterists society volume 46, number 1 3 alert.
The cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg lepidoptera. How to get rid of cactoblastis cactorum home guides sf. Cactoblastis cactorum was introduced into australia as a means to control introduced opuntia cacti. Trail marking by larvae of the cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum. One example is the south american cactus moth cactoblastis cactorum, an escaped biological.
This plant was introduced into australia for the production of red dye that was produced by the cochineal insects that fed on the cactus. Lauderdale, florida 2 usdaars south american biological control laboratory, hurlingham, argentina a bstract cactoblastis. How to get rid of cactoblastis cactorum home guides sf gate. Cactus moth cactoblastis cactorum by united states. Eradication of south american cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum, from 11 parishes in southeastern louisiana. Stephen hight ars tallahassee, fl jim carpenter ars tifton, ga. Identification guide english download pdf spanish download pdf distribution. Gordon3 1systematic entomology laboratory, agricultural research service, u. This page was last edited on 6 december 2014, at 04. Cactoblastis definition of cactoblastis by the free. Cactoblastis cactorum is a voracious feeder on cacti in the genus opuntia prickly pear cacti and is an example of a successful weed biological control programme.
General information about cactoblastis cactorum cactca c. Cactoblastis definition is a genus of small moths subfamily phycitinae of the family pyralidae native to south america including the cactus moth c. Pyralidae is cele brated for its role as a biological control agent for weedy opuntia. Citation download citation juan briano, laura varone, guillermo logarzo, and carlos villamil extended geographical distribution and host range of the cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum lepidoptera. Cactoblastis cactorum in the united states falls into two distinct. Effect of rearing cactoblastis cactorum on an artificial. Cactoblastis cactorum, for control of prickly pear cactus opuntia spp. It has high potential to destroy native opuntia spp. The most famous example of biological control of weeds is the use of a cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum, for control. A brief history of cactoblastis cactorum and its effects. In an effort to continue the development of a sterile insect release program against the invasive cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg, we released partially sterile males alone or in combination with fully sterile females at a 5. Cactoblastis cactorum, the cactus moth, south american cactus moth or nopal moth, is native to argentina, paraguay, uruguay and southern brazil.
Extended geographical distribution and host range of the. Department of agriculture, agricultural research service, crop protection and management. Unlimited viewing of the articlechapter pdf and any associated supplements and figures. Tracking the cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg. Percentage larval eclosion obtained when cactoblastis cactorum adults were treated with 0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 gy of gamma radiation and outcrossed with untreated c. Cactoblastis cactorums unintended arrival to florida and its expansion in north america represent a threat to opuntia. Unlike the solitary larvae of other cactus moths, cactoblastis cactorum larvae may feed gregariously, partially explaining their destructiveness. Cactoblastis cactorum berg cactus feeding moths mississippi. Subsequent introductions to other areas led to the caribbean in the 1950s and a detection in the florida keys in 1989.
Comparing the effects of the exotic cactusfeeding moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg lepidoptera. The prickly pear moth cactoblastis cactorum is a moth that preys specifically on cactus. Effect of temperature and length of exposure time on. Department of agriculture interagency research forum on gypsy moth and other invasive species 2005 gtrne337 dont let cacto blast us. Contact individual photographers for permission to use for any purpose. The program was phenomenally successful at reducing large stands of prickly pear in a relatively short period of time.
Eradication of south american cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum. The oligophagous cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg, has been recognized as a serious and immediate threat to opuntia cacti in florida and the southeastern united states. Factors influencing the distribution of cactoblastis. This report will include information related to the soilborne diseases that it causes. Moth photographers group cactoblastis cactorum 5970. Developing a sterile insect release program for cactoblastis.
Pyralidae and the native cactusfeeding moth, melitara prodenialis walker lepidoptera. Initially 3,000 eggs arrived from argentina and, from a population of 527 females, a total of 100,605 eggs were hatched. Pyralidae, in argentina, florida entomologist 951, 233237, 1 march 2012. Cactoblastis cactorum cactcaoverview eppo global database.
Department of agriculture is an equal cactus moth larvae live and feed communally inside the pads of prickly. Cactus moth cactoblastis cactorum internet archive. It is one of five species in the genus cactoblastis that inhabit south america, where many parasitoids and pathogens control the expansion of the moths population. This species has been introduced into many areas outside its natural range, including.
Department of agriculture, agricultural research service, crop protection and management research laboratory, pg box 748, tifton, georgia 31793 usa j. Biology, history,threat, surveillance and control of the. Cactoblastis 5 potential and risks of biological control of cactoblastis cactorum lepidoptera. Control tactics developed against the argentine cactus moth. Cactoblastis cactorum cactoblastis has become famous for its contribution to the spectacular control of various invasive opuntia species, notably in australia where it has cleared 25 million hectares of land invaded by opuntia stricta. The resulting eggstick resembles the spine of the cactus. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. The cactus moth was so successful at controlling the cacti in australia, aussies even erected a monument for the moth, that it was subsequently introduced to south africa, the caribbean, and hawaii to control cacti populations there.
Pyralidae on artificial diet and opuntia cladodes1 orville g. As mentioned above, the arrival of cactoblastis cactorum into continental north america is a major concern. Cactoblastis definition of cactoblastis by the free dictionary. The cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg, showed its success in 1920s australia as a biological control agent introduced to control invasive exotic prickly pear cacti, opuntia spp. Preliminary assessment of the potential impacts and risks. Although the moth has become widespread and abundant in knp, its populations have not reached levels where it is able to provide the desired level. Rearing the oligophagous cactoblastis cactorum lepidoptera. Although a close association appears to exist between the presence of c.
Control tactics developed against the argentine cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum. Cactoblastis cactorum, ova, embryogenesis, egg hatchability, temperature, heat stress, cold stress, duration abstract. Eradication of south american cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum, from. Control and persistence of native opuntia on nevis and st. Larvae of cactoblastis are red and black, in contrast to coloration of the larvae of melitara. In 1925 the commonwealth prickly pear board, realising the scale of the problem, introduced the cactoblastis moth and larva from south america cactoblastis cactorum. Native ecotypic variation and the role of host identity in. C ordo 2 1 usdaars invasive plant research laboratory, ft. Fieldlevel validation of a climex model for cactoblastis. Factors influencing the distribution of cactoblastis cactorum. The female cactoblastis cactorum lays her eggs in the form of a chain. Print version of this item is available pdf and, the good news continues. Department of agriculture 4700 river road, unit 7 riverdale, md 207371236. Cactoblastis definition and meaning collins english dictionary.
Cactoblastis definition of cactoblastis by merriamwebster. Pdf the invasive cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum. Survey information for the national cactus moth cactoblastis. Cactoblastis cactorum 401 the control of invasive cacti in the genus opuntia by the cactus moth, cactoblastis cactorum berg, is often cited as the most famous example of successful classical biological control of weeds dodd 1940. Cactoblastis definition and meaning collins english. Cactoblastis cactorum, in florida, south carolina, georgia, alabama, and mississippi environmental assessment october 2008 agency contact. Cactoblastis cactorum, or the cactus moth, is an invasive south american insect species that feeds on prickly pear cacti opunita spp.
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