A Study of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in its Native Range: Further Insights into Life Cycle, Larval Identification, Developmental Parameters, Natural Enemies, and Damage to the Host Plant Opuntia ficus-indica (Caryophyllales: Cactaceae)

Folgarait, Patricia J.; Montenegro, Gloria Albioni; Plowes, Robert M.; Gilbert, Lawrence E.

doi:10.1653/024.101.0416

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 37 publications

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“…Densities of this insect species rarely rise to the levels seen in areas where it was introduced, most likely because it coevolved with a suite of natural enemies, competitors, and plant defenses (Dodd, 1940; Varone et al ., 2019). However, it is considered a pest of non‐native O. ficus‐indica plantations in Argentina where larvae cause considerable damage to the crop (Folgarait et al ., 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host quality does not matter to native or invasive cactus moth larvae: grave implications for North American prickly pears

Morrison

Plowes

Jones

et al. 2020

Ecological Entomology

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1. Relationships between prickly pear cactus (Cactaceae: Opuntia) and specialist moth larvae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) are exemplar of exclusive interactions between herbivorous insects and host plants. 2. We measured nutritional and defensive factors indicative of Opuntia quality to native and invasive host-specialised moth larvae. Our goals were to investigate whether host qualities varied among and within Opuntia species, use that information to test whether host quality axes predicted occupancy by larvae in two focal O. engelmannii populations, and draw conclusions about whether these herbivores were resource limited. 3. There were minimal differences in protein, carbohydrate, fatty acid, fibre, water, and cuticular thickness, among four Opuntia species distributed throughout Texas. Macronutrient content did not differ between most species. Mucilage exudation was an induced response to herbivory. Field experiments compared pairs of O. engelmannii in which one individual hosted native Melitara doddalis or invasive Cactoblastis cactorum larvae, and the other did not; host quality and nutritional space did not predict herbivore occupancy. Moreover, ordination of host quality traits did not reveal spatial aggregation of cacti with and without herbivores. 4. These results demonstrated that neither moth species was resource limited. An overall lack of variation among and within Texas Opuntia indicate that these species were suitable resources to invasive C. cactorum that recently established in Texas. 5. Outcomes of this study have serious implications for Opuntia, native moths, and associated food webs, that will soon interact with an expanding C. cactorum population as it spreads inland from the Texas Gulf Coast.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host quality does not matter to native or invasive cactus moth larvae: grave implications for North American prickly pears

Morrison

Plowes

Jones

et al. 2020

Ecological Entomology

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Lethal effect of Goniozus legneri on Cactoblastis cactorum: A potential biocontrol agent for inundative releases

Varone,

Faltlhauser,

Fuentes Corona

et al. 2024

Bull. Entomol. Res.

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Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), the cactus moth, is native to South America with a widespread distribution in Argentina. The larvae consume the interior of Opuntia spp. (Cactaceae) plants. The moth was used as a biocontrol agent against invasive non-native Opuntia spp. in many countries around the world. The cactus moth arrived unintentionally in Florida, USA, expanded its range and threatened Opuntia-based agriculture and natural ecosystems in southern North America. The insect is also a pest of cultivated O. ficus-indica L. in Argentina. An endemic South American parasitoid, Goniozus legneri Gordth (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), is used in inundative biological control programmes against lepidopteran pests. The goal of this work was to evaluate G. legneri as a biocontrol agent to be used in inundative releases against C. cactorum. Mortality of C. cactorum by G. legneri was assessed at different spatial scales, as well as the interactions with Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez & Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a common Argentine natural enemy of C. cactorum. The ability of G. legneri to paralyse, parasitise and kill C. cactorum was confirmed. The paralysis inflicted on C. cactorum larvae reduced larval damage to the plants by 85%. Using two parasitoid species increased the mortality of C. cactorum larvae, but it was highly dependent on the order of their arrival. The combined mortality caused by both parasitoids was higher than a single one, in particular when G. legneri arrived first (56 ± 1%), suggesting asymmetric competition due to the preference of G. legneri attacking previously parasitised larvae. Goniozus legneri has potential as an inundative biocontrol agent of C. cactorum, but its interaction with the classical biocontrol agent A. opuntiarum needs to be considered.

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Natural Egg Parasitism by Scelionidae on a Phycitine Cactus Moth in Mexico

Morales-Gálvez

Villegas-Luján

Plowes

et al. 2022

Florida Entomologist

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A Study of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in its Native Range: Further Insights into Life Cycle, Larval Identification, Developmental Parameters, Natural Enemies, and Damage to the Host Plant Opuntia ficus-indica (Caryophyllales: Cactaceae)

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 3 publications

References 37 publications

Host quality does not matter to native or invasive cactus moth larvae: grave implications for North American prickly pears

Host quality does not matter to native or invasive cactus moth larvae: grave implications for North American prickly pears

Lethal effect of Goniozus legneri on Cactoblastis cactorum: A potential biocontrol agent for inundative releases

Natural Egg Parasitism by Scelionidae on a Phycitine Cactus Moth in Mexico

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