Cactoblastis cactorum

Taxobox
name = "Cactoblastis cactorum"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = Female moth
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
subordo = Ditrysia
superfamilia = Pyraloidea
familia = Pyralidae
subfamilia =
genus = "Cactoblastis"
species = "C. cactorum"
binomial = "Cactoblastis cactorum"
binomial_authority = (Berg)

"Cactoblastis cactorum" commonly known as the cactus moth or nopal moth. The species is native to South America where it lives on "Opuntia" cacti. It was used successfully as a biological control agent in Australia in the 1920s to control several species of introduced prickly pear cactus. The success "C. cactorum" in Australia was renowned, influencing its use in other parts of the world, including South Africa in 1933, Hawaii in 1950, and the Caribbean island of Nevis in 1957. The insect now occurs throughout the Caribbean, and has entered the Florida Keys and Mexico where it threatens local cactus species.

Description

The adults of "Cactoblastis cactorum" are non-descript brownish-gray moths that can only be definitively identified by a microscopic examination of dissected male genitalia. They generally appear as typical Pyralide moths with pronounced labial palps of the female, thus the name “snout moths”. The fore-wings show a characteristic banding pattern, however other related Phycitinae have similar banding.Floyd, J. 2006. [http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ep/emerging_pests/cactoblastis/index.html Pest Alert: Cactus moth Cactoblastis cactorum] . APHIS]

The larvae of "C. cactorum" are very distinctive with black spots or bands on an orange to red body.

Life cycle

Before sunset, the female moth begins to release sex pheromone signaling to males her readiness to mate. Males respond and mating takes place for a short time. After an incubation period, the female deposits an egg stick averaging 70-90 eggs. Egg sticks, which resemble cactus spines, develop hatch in 25- 30 days. Gregarious first instar larvae bore into the cactus pad. The external damage is characterized by yellowing of plant tissue, with oozing of plant fluids and insect frass. larvae feed, develop internally, and eventually hollow out the cactus pad. Mature larvae exit the cactus pad to form cocoons and pupate under debris on the ground at the base of the plant. After emergence, adult moths disperse to new areas.

Monuments/Memorials

Dalby in Queensland, Australia has a monument to the cactoblastis in a park by the Myall Creek which runs through the town. According to the Lonely Planet, it is the only monument to an insect in the world.

The Boonarga Cactoblastis Hall is located 10km east of Chinchilla, and purports to be "the only building dedicated to an insect." [http://www.chinchilla.org.au/index-tess1.php?ItemNo=1015] However, a monument dedicated to the boll weevil stands in Enterprise, Alabama.

References

External links

* [http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/bfly/cactus_moth.htm cactus moth] on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site