South American moth brought to fight prickly pear now threatens native U.S. cacti

According to scientists, the South American cactus moth primarily attacks Opuntia species, commonly known as prickly pear cactus. It can also occasionally affect Nopalea, Cylindropuntia and Consolea species. A pest once deliberately moved around the world to solve an agricultural problem has become a problem of its own. According to a report by the USDA’s principal scientific research agency ARS, the South American cactus moth was introduced to the Caribbean decades ago to control invasive prickly pear. After reaching Florida, it began spreading through the very cactus populations native to the southern United States and Mexico. Now, researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service are working to stop its advance using a biological control method that turns the moth's own reproductive cycle against it.From pest control to ecological threatAccording to the report, the story began with prickly pear, a cactus considered an invasive agricultural pest in Australia during the 19th century. The South American cactus moth was introduced there as a biological control agent, helping reduce the spread of the unwanted plants. The same strategy was later used ...