Control Tactics Developed Against the Argentine Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactorum Stephen Hight – ARS Tallahassee, FL Jim Carpenter – ARS Tifton, GA and many collaborators Cactoblastis cactorum Life Cycle Adult Oviposition Pupate under/in Eggsticks old (60-100 eggs) pads or veg on soil Early instar larvae Internal feeding Gregarious larvae Cactoblastis cactorum is endemic to Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay Cactoblastis cactorum • Opuntia species from N. America became serious non-native weed 1920’s Australia: Cactus moth, was introduced from Argentina to control Opuntia spp. C. cactorum as Biological Control Agent Successful control achieved in Australia after a few years and is still effective 70 years later BEFORE AFTER Cactoblastis cactorum detections in the Southeastern United States SC MS AL GA Charleston LA 2009 2008 Mobile 2007 Pensacola 2005 Tallahassee New Orleans 2004 FL 2003 2011 Northern 2002 expansion in 2001 Farthest Western Florida Tampa Outbreak: Delta area N Peninsula 2000 south of New Orleans 1993 1989 0 50 100 200 mi Miami Oct. 1989 First Continental US Detection – Bahia Honda Key, FL Rangeland Grazing -- cattle and wildlife Nursery Plants and Landscaping Fruit and Pad Production Importance to Subsistence Farmers Historical and Cultural Importance Biodiversity Desert Habitat Approach: 1. Develop survey and trapping techniques to monitor expanding geographical range 2. Identify sex pheromone for trapping lure 3. Develop mass rearing strategies 4. Develop the SIT (Sterile Insect Technique) 5. Implement the SIT on area-wide basis Trap Type Trap Height Trap Color Best Trap white (unpainted) wing trap with sticky bottom and placed at a height of 2m MATING BEHAVIOR Female Calling - time initiate calling - success of calling action - duration of calling Male Response to Calling Behavior - time to respond to female calling - mating success - duration of mating calling mating inactive 60 50 40 30 20 Number of Females 10 0 Time – a.m. Sunrise – 6:47 Cactus Moth Synthetic Female Sex Pheromone Current Pheromone •septa impregnated 3 component blend (2 acetates, 1 alcohol) •trap ~ 1.5 meter high •service every week •change lure every 6 weeks Improvements continuing to increase pheromone specificity Collaborators ARS: Bob Heath, Nancy Epsky, and Peter Teal Mexico: Juan Cibrian 3 Generations / Year Mean Cactoblastis cactorum Trap Catch at St. Mark's, FL, 2002-2005 2002 2003 2004 2005 25 OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 20 JULY - AUGUST 15 APRIL - MAY 10 Mean Number of Males 5 0 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 Week of Year Male Cactoblastis cactorum Trap Catch Edi s to, S C Sebring, FL 25 20 15 10 5 Mean Male Moths 0 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 Week of Year (2005) AL GA Pensacola FL Panama City Tallahassee Dauphin Island Okaloosa SIT + Sanitation Island Sanitation only St. George Island Control Cactus Moth SIT Field Efficacy Study Mean wild male captured 2005 (% of 2004 Mean wild male captured autumn 2005 (% captures) of spring 2005 captures) 200 70 60 150 50 40 100 30 50 20 10 0 0 Monitoring Sanitation Sanitation + Monitoring Sanitation Sanitation + only SIT only SIT Cactoblastis cactorum is the first lepidopteran species eradicated from a country in the Western Hemisphere! •Early detection •Rapid response with effective tactics Control tactics used to greatly reduce or eliminate populations of Cactoblastis cactorum in North America, 2007-2010 Locations % Reduction Environmentally Major Control Tactics in Population sensitive? Isla Mujeres, 100% No Host plant removal MX Pensacola 92% No Host plant removal Ft. Morgan 100% Yes/No Host plant removal Dauphin Is. 100% Yes/No Host plant removal/ Sanitation/SIT Little Dauphin 100% Yes Sanitation/SIT Is. Petit Bois Is. 94% Yes Sanitation/SIT Horn Is. 80% Yes Sanitation/SIT Isla Contoy, 100% Yes Sanitation/SIT MX 1. resources required to protect and sustain sensitive/ important prickly pear populations from C. cactorum attack 2. impact of C. cactorum on O. stricta Treated Area -- release sterile moths (Spring 2012 flight) -- sanitation (remove all eggsticks; remove all larvae/infested pads) -- track “expenditures” -- measure plant growth parameters -- 30 sentinel plants -- ~ 1200 meters between primary and secondary dunes -- ~ 270 Opuntia stricta plants Untreated Area -- no sterile moths -- no sanitation -- mark eggsticks and follow fate -- measure plant growth parameters -- 30 sentinel plants -- ~ 1200 meters between primary and secondary dunes -- ~ ??? Opuntia stricta plants questions .