Morphology of the immature stages and biology of Cactoblastis doddi (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Prepuna in Jujuy (Northwestern Argentina).

Abstract

Morphology of the immature stages and biology of Cactoblastis doddi (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Prepuna in Jujuy (Northwestern Argentina). In argentinian Northwestern five species or biotypes of the genus Cactoblastis Ragonot are recognized on cacti: C. cactorum (Berg), C. Bucyrus Dyar, C. mundelli Heinrich, C. doddi Heinrich and C. ronnai (Brèthes). Cactoblastis doddi feeds on Opuntia sulphurea, a native cactus. The objectives of this study were to morphologically characterize immature stages of C. doddi and to know bioecological aspects (duration of the development, distribution, larval parasitoids) to understand the insect-plant interaction. Sampling were conducted at seven sites located at different altitudes (2 100-3 100 meters) in Jujuy's prepuna, Argentina. Each sample consisted of five infested cladodes of O. sulphurea in each site. In the laboratory, lepidopteran breeding was performed under the following conditions: temperature 23 ± 3°C, relative humidity 69 ± 11 % and photoperiod of 12 hours light-12 hours dark. Under previous conditions, Cactoblastis doddi had two generations: a long one in winter (> 258 days) and a short one in summer (147 days), both with seven larval instars. Each immature stage and instars were morphologically characterized. Two larval parasitoids were detected Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez y Berta, and Habrobracon sp.

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)

“…The principal parasitoid encountered across all sites was A. opuntiarum, in agreement with previous surveys (Goñalons et al 2014). Apanteles opuntiarum seemed to be well adapted to a variety of climates as we found it at all sites surveyed across Argentina (Gomez et al 2015;Varone et al 2015).…”

“…Cactoblastis bucyrus is mainly found on Opuntia from the subgenus Cereaneae whereas the other 2 species are found on the Platyopuntia subgenus (McFadyen 1985). Generally, C. cactorum does not develop on O. sulfurea in the field, whereas C. doddi uses it as its preferred host (Mann 1969;Varone et al 2014;Gomez et al 2015). The final instar of C. bucyrus may reach twice the size of the other 2 species (Table 4).…”

Ecological Niche Modeling to Calculate Ideal Sites to Introduce a Natural Enemy: The Case of Apanteles opuntiarum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to Control Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in North America

“…One example of an invasive threat is the cactus moth from South America, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) [ 10 ]. Larvae of C. cactorum feed gregariously inside cladodes, causing the decay and often death of infested plants [ 11 , 12 ]. This South American species [ 12 ] was introduced intentionally into Australia and South Africa as a biological control agent that successfully controlled exotic Opuntia species [ 11 , 13 ].…”

“…Larvae of C. cactorum feed gregariously inside cladodes, causing the decay and often death of infested plants [ 11 , 12 ]. This South American species [ 12 ] was introduced intentionally into Australia and South Africa as a biological control agent that successfully controlled exotic Opuntia species [ 11 , 13 ]. Unfortunately, C. cactorum was introduced into the Caribbean for the control of invasive and native Opuntia species [ 14 ], and the moth spread naturally and by human-assisted introductions throughout the Caribbean [ 15 ].…”