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Moth Invades U.S. Coasts: Once Helper, Now Pest
22 Sep
Summary
- South American cactus moth, once used for pest control, now threatens native cacti.
- Researchers use sterile insect technique to combat the invasive moth's spread.
- Invasive moth damages native cacti, impacting wildlife habitat and food sources.
A South American cactus moth, once a beneficial tool for controlling invasive prickly pear, has become a problem on U.S. coasts. Introduced to the Caribbean decades ago for pest control, it has since spread to native cactus populations in the southern United States and Mexico.
Researchers are now using a sterile insect technique to combat the moth. This method involves releasing sterilized male moths to mate with wild females, preventing reproduction and reducing the invasive population over time. This ongoing effort involves multiple USDA agencies and university partners.
The invasive moth primarily targets Opuntia species, commonly known as prickly pear cactus, by damaging their pads and weakening the plants. These cacti are ecologically valuable, providing habitat for wildlife and preventing erosion.
Experiments are underway at three Florida and Alabama island locations. Early results from Dauphin Island, combining sterile moth releases with sanitation efforts, have shown nearly undetectable levels of the cactus moth population, suggesting the strategy's potential effectiveness.
