Cactus Moth Update
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Cactus Moth Update Volume 1, Issue 1 July 2009 Distribution of Opuntia in the Region By Victor Maddox Geosystems Research Institute New populations of Opuntia have been recorded in Missis- sippi recently. Cactus moth has been found in southern Louisi- ana, intensifying work there. On the Cactus Moth Detection and Monitoring Network data- base, 236 instances are reported in Louisiana, with new reports added constantly. A number of Figure 2. Larger vegetation associated with Opuntia engelmannii new populations of host cacti Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. grows on canal levees in southern LA. Iden- are also marked. Most are Opun- tifying taller vegetation saves time, since could indicate potential tia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex hosts. (Photo by Victor Maddox). Engelm. on canal levees (Fig. 1), on and around Fort Livingston, non-native. Still, Opuntia engel- vast area. Associate species or in residential landscapes. mannii is well established on have been recorded for a num- Inside this issue: Grand Chenier in southwest ber of the Opuntia engelmannii Plants on levees may have es- Louisiana. Nopalea cochenillifera populations on canal levees. Helping APHIS 2 caped from Fort Livingston (L.) Mill. and Opuntia ficus-indica They are generally associated Find Cactus Moth located on Grand Terre Island (L.) Mill. have been identified in with Baccharis halimifolia L., Celtis to the south of the canal levees. residential landscapes, but are laevigata Willd., Distichlis spicata Quarantine Facil- 2 Opuntia engelmannii was appar- uncommon. (L.) Greene, Ilex vomitoria Ait., ently planted at Fort Morgan in ity for Rearing Iva frutescens L., Lantana camara Alabama for soil stabilization. Surveys continue in southern L., Melia azedarach L., Quercus Louisiana for host s from popu- virginiana Mill., Rubus trivialis Sending Pictures 3 Similar planting may have taken lations. Many are accessible only Michx., Sesbania drummondii of Pheromonal place many years ago at Fort by boat and scattered over a (Rydb.) Cory, Solidago semper- Livingston, possibly making it virens L., Spartina patens (Ait.) Dissection Train- 3 Muhl., Teucrium canadense L., Fig. 1. Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. on a canal levee ing Video in southern Louisiana. This plant was not infested with cactus Triadica sebifera (L.) Small., and moth, but many others in the area are. (Photo by Victor Maddox). Zanthoxylum clava-herculis L. New Web Site on 3 Cactus Moth and Other less common species were also associated with Opun- tia, but the larger woody species Models and Popu- 4 appear to be better indicators lation Genetics since they are visible from greater distances (Fig. 2). Data Network Home- 5 for each population will be col- page Update lected and entered into the Cactus Moth Detection and Monitoring Network database. Page 2 Cactus Moth Helping APHIS Find Cactus Moth By Victor Maddox Following the detection of surveys were road surveys on Geosystems Research Institute cactus moth in Louisiana MSU- and adjacent to Highways 45 GRI assisted with two sets of and 23 south of New Orleans. Since before the detection of host/pest surveys in Southern cactus moth in Louisiana, MSU- Louisiana. The first set of sur- Data on new host populations “MSU-GRI GRI has coordinated and col- veys was conducted during the were gathered during these laborated with USDA-APHIS in 3rd week of June and focused surveys, entered into the Cac- assisted with their efforts to eradicate cactus on all roads south of Highway tus Moth Detection and Moni- moth in the Midsouth. 90. The second set of host/pest toring Network (CMDMN) two sets of host/ surveys was conducted the last database. Both Louisiana data In early June MSU-GRI assisted week of June. and Texas sentinel site contacts pest surveys in USDA-APHIS with cactus moth from the database have been surveys on the Mississippi bar- Boat surveys in the marsh shared with USDA-APHIS. Southern rier islands. Teams inspected south of Lafitte, LA (Figure. 1) Currently, MSU-GRI is working thousands of plants for cactus took the first day. Representa- on sharing CMDMN host data Louisiana.” moth on Horn and Petit Bois tives from Texas trained in for Texas with George Nash, Islands during a strategic time. recognizing the various stages USDA-APHIS, in Texas. of pest activity and host dam- age (Figure 2). The remaining During cactus moth and host Fig. 1. Boat survey for cactus moth and hosts in southern Louisiana with USDA-APHIS representatives. MSU-GRI collected data for the Cactus Moth Detection and Monitoring Network (Photo by Victor Maddox). Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Helping APHIS Find Cactus Moth (cont.) survey trips, invasive plant spe- cies data was also collected for the Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth (IPAMS) for sharing Numerous data forms were collected during these trips including data on species new to IPAMS and federal noxious species. MSU-GRI continues to coordi- nate activities with USDA- APHIS to assist their efforts, which is especially important when there are USDA budget shortfalls. USDA is establishing trap lines in LA and TX and A new web site seeking more host information and volunteers in TX. Fig. 2. Joe Bravata with USDA-APHIS in Louisiana inspecting on cactus moths Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. for cactus moth. USDA-APHIS representatives from Texas participated in the will cover 21 survey as training for activities in Texas. (Photo by Victor Maddox). genera and include “Dissection of Male Genitalia of the Cactus Moth” - A Training Video taxonomic and By Richard L. Brown making dissections are known sections and the detailed meth- identification Department of Entomology to many Lepidoptera special- ods for cleaning, staining, and ists, but these have not been slide mounting the abdomen information, The identification of the cactus made widely known to others and genitalia. This video will be moth can be dependent upon who are involved in making available on CD as well as on morphology, making dissections of the male diagnostic identifications. A web pages, and as such will be genitalia for distinguishing this new video has been produced the first video on dissection life history, species from related cactus that covers the tools and re- methodology that is available moths. Proper methods for agents needed for making dis- on line. larval hosts and images. New Web Page on the Cactus Moth and Related Native Species By Richard L. Brown morphology, life history, larval known hosts of Cactoblastis, a Department of Entomology hosts, and images. At present complete bibliography for Cac- the site includes this informa- toblastis (with pdfs for some A new web site on cactus tion for all Cactoblastis and publications), and a compiled moths in North and South Melitara species. and categorized list of links to America is in development by other sites. The site can be Thomas Simonsen and Richard New information that is avail- accessed at: http:// L. Brown, with various author able on-line for the first time mississippientomologicalmu- authors contributed selected includes images of comparative seum.org.msstate.edu// pages. The site will cover 21 morphology of Cactoblastis and Researchtaxapages/ genera and include taxonomic Melitara, a synthsis of new in- CactusMoths/ListGenera.html. and identification information, formation on life history and Page 4 Cactus Moth Opuntia and Cactoblastis Habitat Models and Population Genetics utilized Floridian host plant C. Calibration of environ- species (O. humifusa and O. mental tolerance models stricta). for Cactoblastis, based on data collected in the two B. Analyses of genetic data Argentina research trips. resulting from Argentina sampling trips. We have begun comparative habitat modeling approaches We completed genetic analyses aimed at testing hypotheses for C. cactorum in its native regarding factors influencing range in Argentina, its invasive the distribution of C. cactorum range in Florida, and for Meli- across Florida. tara prodenialis across its native Floridian range. These analyses This work, and a field study have shown that C. cactorum completed during summer has considerable geographically 2008, suggest the moth’s distri- By Gary N. Ervin structured genetic diversity in bution is strongly influenced by Department of Biological Sci- its native range, similar to M. the presence of its preferred ences prodenialis in its native range. host species (or that the two are mutually influenced by one Our proposed work for 2009- Cactoblastis cactorum in Florida or more other factors). We 2010 encompasses three major has far reduced genetic diver- presently are expanding this areas of research—continued sity relative to its native range work to evaluate potential habitat modeling efforts based (5 vs. 55 COI haplotypes), but habitat for the moth in areas of on our large data set from the this diversity also is geographi- the Gulf Coast beyond the C. cactorum native range, con- cally structured, with a Gulf Florida-Alabama distribution. (T)he moth’s tinued genetic studies in Opun- Coast clade, an Atlantic Coast tia and cactophagous moths, clade, and a more widespread We also have begun work to distribution is and experimental studies of clade overlapping these other integrate habitat modeling stud- growth performance of C. cac- two. ies with results we have ob- strongly torum and native US cactus tained to date from our genetic moths on native southeastern These data support published analyses (i.e., modeling habitat influenced by US Opuntia species. inferences of multiple introduc- for specific genotypes). We tions to Florida, but only from have manuscripts in develop- the presence of The following is an update on the nearby Caribbean range. A ment based on this habitat progress towards our pro- manuscript discussing these modeling work. its preferred posed deliverables for 2010. findings is nearing completion and should be submitted during host species (or A. Analyses of comparative the next quarter. growth chamber studies. that the two We initiated a controlled labo- are mutually ratory experiment aimed at investigating unique defense influenced by responses from prickly pear hosts to feeding by C.