Cactus moth

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cactus moth
Cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum), caterpillars

Cactus moth ( Cactoblastis cactorum ), caterpillars

Systematics
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Subordination : Ditrysia
Superfamily : Common moth (Pyraloidea)
Family : European borer (Pyralidae)
Genre : Cactoblastis
Type : Cactus moth
Scientific name
Cactoblastis cactorum
Berg , 1885

The cactus moth ( Cactoblastis cactorum ) is a species of butterfly from the borer family . It is originally found in South America, where it lives on Opuntia .

features

As an adult, the cactus moth has a characteristic band pattern on the brown-gray forewings, which is similar to those of other species in the family, and black stripes. The hind wings are light with darker ends. The wingspan is in the range between a good 20 and just under 40 mm. The caterpillars are characterized by black spots on an orange to red background. They become up to approx. 30 mm long. The species is considered to be determinable only by microscopic examination of the severed male sexual organs.

Reproduction

After the females secrete pheromones in the evening hours and the males respond, mating takes place and, after a short incubation period, about 70–90, sometimes up to 100 eggs are laid in chain-like associations on cacti. After just under a month, the larvae hatch and develop in the cactus before they form a cocoon on the ground on the fallen leaves and pupate . Infested plant tissue turns yellow.

The Australian population has two life cycles per year.

Economical meaning

The species was successfully used in Australia from 1925 to 1930 to bring the spread of introduced cactus species under control. The method was repeated elsewhere, including South Africa and Hawaii. Today, after a local mission, it is also native to the Caribbean and poses a threat to cactus populations in Mexico.

Adult female

swell

  1. ↑ a b c http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/cactus_moth.htm
  2. ^ Heinrich C. 1956. American moths of the subfamily Phycitinae. US National Museum Bulletin 207.581 p.
  3. ^ Dodd AP. 1940. The biological campaign against prickly-pear. Commonwealth Prickly-pear Board Bulletin, Brisbane, 177 p.
  4. ^ Simmonds FJ, Bennett FD. 1966. Biological control of Opuntia spp. by Cactoblastis cactorum in the Leeward Islands (West Indies). Entomophaga 11: 183-189.
  5. ↑ Urania Tierreich, Urania Verlag 1994, volume "Insekten", p. 659

Web links

Commons : Cactus Moth  - Collection of images, videos and audio files