Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell)

 

Taxonomic position

Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae Dactylopius colony on prickly pear

Year of introduction

 1926

Source

 USA via Sri Lanka via Australia

Target pest

 Opuntia elatior, O. stricta (=O. dillenii)

Present status

 Established, providing complete economic control

References

1. Das, B.C. 1934. Destruction of prickly pear in Mewar State (Rajputana). Indian Forester, 60: 342-345.

2. Goeden, R.D. 1978. Biological control of weeds, pp.357-545. In: Clausen, C.P. (Ed) Introduced parasites and predators of arthropod pests and weeds. ARS, USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 480,357-545.

3. Julien, M.H. 1992. Biological control of weeds - A world catalogue of agents and their target weeds. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K, 186 p.

4. Rao, V.P., Ghani, A.M., Sankaran, T. and Mathur, K.C. 1971. A review of the biological control of insects and other pests in South East Asia and the Pacific region. Commonwealth Institute of Biological  Control Technical Communication (6), 149 p., CAB, Slough, UK.

5. Singh, S.P. 1989. Biological suppression of weeds. Biological Control Centre, NCIPM, Faridabad. Technical Bulletin (1), 27 p.