Taxonomic name: Cactoblastis cactorum Berg
Synonyms: Zophodia cactorum Berg
Common names: Cactus moth, prickly pear moth
Organism type: insect Cactoblastis cactorum is a moth that preys specifically on cacti species. It has been introduced in various locations around the globe to provide biological control of invasive cacti species and has proved itself successful in Australia and some Caribbean islands. However, from the Caribbean it spread into Florida and has attacked non-target cacti species. It is feared that it will cause large scale losses of native cacti diversity in North America and possibly have a large economic, social and ecological impact in Opuntia rich areas of southwestern USA and Mexico. Description
Females of Cactoblastis cactorum have a wingspan of 27-40mm, whilst the males wingspan is slightly smaller (23-32mm). The adult is fawn with faint dark dots and lines on the wings. It normally rests with its wings wrapped around its body. The forewings are greyish brown but whiter toward the costal margin. Distinct black antemedial and subterminal lines are present. Hindwings are white, semihyaline at base, smoky brown on outer half with a dark line along the posterior margin. The average longevity of the adult is 9 days. The incubation period of eggs depends on temperature; the shortest time being 18 days. The eggs usually hatch in 23-28 days. Larvae are gregarious in nature, initially pinkish cream coloured, with black red dots on the back of each segment. Later instars become orange and the dots coalesce to become a dark band across each segment reaching up to 1.5cm. The pupa is enclosed in a fine white silk cocoon which consists of a loose outer covering and a more compact inner cocoon. Pupation sites are usually found among debris of rotting cladodes under stones, logs, bark and just beneath the surface of the soil. The average length of the pupal period is 21-28 days. (Jordan Golubov., pers. comm.., 2005). Similar Species
Phycitinae
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Habitat description
Cactoblastis cactorum require Opuntia cacti species to lay their eggs upon. General impacts
Stiling (2002) states that, "Cactoblastis cactorum oviposits by gluing sticks of about 50-90 eggs on cactus spines. The gregarious larvae bore into the pads or cladodes, devouring them from the inside. About four pads are needed for the development of the larvae from a complete egg stick." The authors also report that, "There are at least 31 species of prickly pear in the US that are likely to be attacked by C. cactorum and 56 species in Mexico. As well as the threat to wild cacti, there are over 250,000ha of Opuntia plantations in Mexico that support a thriving agricultural industry, most of which is centered on harvesting fruits or pads." Stiling (2002) reports that “As well as its commercial value, Opuntia is used by a whole community of organisms (109 species of invertebrates, 9 species of reptiles, 54 mammals and 25 species of birds)". Vigueras and Portillo, 2001; Mellink and Rojas-Lopez, 2002). Uses
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. It was introduced from Argentina into Australia in the mid 1920's for the biological control of invasive and non-native Opuntia. C. cactorum was then intentionally spread from Australia into other countries with prickly pear problems (Solis et al. 2004). Geographical range
Native range: South America (Zimmermann et al. 2000). Northern provinces of Argentina (Entre Rios, Corrientes, Santa Fe, northern portion of Cordoba, Santiago del Estero, Tucuman, Salta, Jujuy and the Chaco), in Uruguay (along the Uruguay and Plata Rivers from Piriapolis in the south and north to Salta) and Paraguay (Villa de Concepcion and vicinities of Asuncion), also in the southern portions of Brazil (Matto Grosso at Corumba but may include Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina). (Jordan Golubov., pers. comm., 2005)
Known introduced range: Africa, Asia, Australasia-Pacific region and North America (Stiling, 2002). Introduction pathways to new locations
Biological control: Cactoblastis cactorum was introduced to St Kitts, Nevis and Montserrat in the Carribbean (Pemberton, 1995).
Natural dispersal: Cactoblastis cactorum in the Florida Keys may have been the result of the moth naturally dispersing across the Caribbean, or it may have been introduced unintentionally on horticultural prickly pear cacti imported into Florida (Solis et al. 2004)
Nursery trade: Cactoblastis cactorum in the Florida Keys may have been the result of the moth naturally dispersing across the Caribbean, or it may have been introduced unintentionally on horticultural prickly pear cacti imported into Florida (Solis et al. 2004)
Local dispersal methods
Natural dispersal (local): Nutrition
On hatching, all larvae from one eggstick enter the plant at one point. They tunnel freely within the cladodes, consuming the whole of the interior except the vascular bundles and leaving the undamaged cuticle as a transparent tissue. Burrowing activity usually causes secondary bacterial activity which hastens the destruction of cladodes. When one cladode has been eaten or decayed, the larvae may penetrate into the next segment. During this process the colony usually divides into two or more groups. Adults have no functional mouthparts and emerge only to reproduce (Jordan Golubov., pers. comm., 2005). Reproduction
Oviposition is normally at dusk or early dawn and may be responding to CO2 concentrations around pads (Stange, 1997; Stange et al 1995). The number of eggs in a stick varies greatly but the average contain from 76-90 eggs. Each female can deposit several eggsticks; 3-4 but can frequently lay 8-12. In Australia, mating takes place during the early morning hours and copulation has never been documented at night, or after 2100hrs. Adults normally remain inactive during daylight hours. In South Africa, sexual activity is found on the first and second night after adult emergence. In Florida, peak periods of sexual activity begin between nautical and civil twilight and ends before sunrise (for a detailed behavioural sequence of sexual activity see Hight et al. 2003) Lifecycle stages
When fully grown the larvae exit the cladodes and individually drop to the ground and find pupation sites, usually in the debris of rotting cladodes (Jordan Golubov., pers. comm., 2005). Reviewed by: Dr. Jordan K. Golubov
Profesor-Investigador Titular C
Lab. Sistematica y Ecologia Vegetal
Departamento El Hombre y Su Ambiente
Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana -- Xochimilco Mexico Principal sources: Stiling, 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
Compiled by: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
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Last Modified: Monday, 27 March 2006
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