Plant Health
Cactus Moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) |
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C. cactorum Photo Gallery (click on picture for larger image)
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Later
instar larva of C. cactorum showing size in centimeters. Image: Sue Ellis, USDA, APHIS, PPQ |
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Female
pupa, cocoon, and male pupa of C. cactorum. Image: Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
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Adult
female (above) and adult male (below) of C. cactorum pinned to a prickly pear cactus pad. Image: Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
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Adult
female C. cactorum moth in the process of laying
an egg stick. Image: Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
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Two
egg sticks on laid on the spines of Opuntia stricta. Image: Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
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First
instar C. cactorum larvae in the process of hatching
from an egg stick. Image: Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
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The
larvae of C. cactorum normally feed gregariously
inside the pad of the prickly pear. During the winter
months they may congregate inside the lower reachs of
the plant, but may appear on the outside of the plant
during sunny, warmer days. Image: Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
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A cross section of a prickly pear pad showing feeding galleries and several C. cactorum larvae feeding on the inside. Image: Joel Floyd USDA, APHIS, PPQ |