Cactoblastis
insect genus
Quick Summary
Cactoblastis is a genus of small moths native to South America. The most well-known species is Cactoblastis cactorum, often called the cactus moth. The larvae of this moth are orange-red borers that consume prickly pear cacti.12
This biological control method has been notably successful in Australia. Introduced from Argentina in 1925, Cactoblastis cactorum helped control prickly pear cacti, which had become invasive pests. This intervention transformed millions of acres of cactus-infested land into usable pasture and farmland.34
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