Dactylopius opuntiae, a new prickly pear cactus pest in the Mediterranean: an overview.

Mazzeo, Gaetana; Nucifora, Salvatore; Russo, Agatino; Suma, Pompeo

The Opuntia cochineal scale or false carmine cochineal scale, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), is spreading rapidly in many countries, especially in the Mediterranean basin, where it has become a serious pest of prickly pear crops, Opuntia ficus‐indica (L.) Miller (Cactaceae). This crop is an important food resource both for humans and livestock. The cochineal was originally used as a biological agent to control cactaceous weeds in many countries where Opuntiaceae had been introduced. Currently, in some countries where the prickly pear is no longer considered a weed but a productive crop, as in the Mediterranean area, D. opuntiae has changed its role from a highly prized biological control agent to the status of serious pest. This paper provides an overview of the current knowledge on D. opuntiae for farmers and stakeholders in order to indicate the most appropriate way to limit or counteract the spread of this pest especially in new cultivated areas. Originally used as a biocontrol agent against Cactaceae weeds, Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) has turned into a serious pest in some countries where prickly pear is considered a productive crop, as in the Mediterranean basin. This paper focuses on the spread of D. opuntiae as a pest of the prickly pear cactus and on its taxonomy, biology, host plants, and role as a biological control agent. The damage it causes and the control strategies currently available are also reported.

DACTYLOPIIDAE; PRICKLY pears; PESTS; INSECTS; CROPS

Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 2019, Vol 167, Issue 1, p59

0013-8703

Academic Journal

10.1111/eea.12756