{"id":2211,"date":"2025-03-19T09:00:39","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T09:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/westtexasrangelands\/?p=2211"},"modified":"2025-03-19T12:32:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T12:32:11","slug":"prickly-pear-and-the-south-american-cactus-moth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/westtexasrangelands\/prickly-pear-and-the-south-american-cactus-moth\/","title":{"rendered":"Prickly Pear and the South American Cactus Moth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Cactus<\/a>Texas is known for its rugged landscapes and iconic, opportunistic, and problematic prickly pear. While these plants readily provide headaches to the grazing manager, oftentimes pear also serves as food and habitat for wildlife and is a native species on Texas rangelands. However, the South American Cactus Moth has been found and confirmed in five Texas counties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The South American Cactus Moth (<\/span>Cactoblastis cactorum<\/span><\/i>) is an invasive insect (origins from South America) primarily threatening prickly pear (genus <\/span>Opuntia<\/span><\/i>).The larvae of the moth are the primary concern, burrowing into the pads of the cactus and feeding from the inside out. This internal feeding quickly leads to the deterioration of the pads and, eventually, entire prickly pear mortality.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the South American Cactus Moth has been confirmed in Chambers, Brazoria, Matagorda, Jackson, and Colorado counties the potential for its spread is a major concern. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has been actively monitoring the moth through its Texas Cactus Moth Interception, Survey and Educational Program led by Dr. Barron Rector. Although the moth hasn’t been detected in the last 30 months across the state (primarily due to the Uri Freeze in 2021), ongoing surveillance continues in 19 counties <\/span>(presently in Chambers, Jefferson, Brazoria, Matagorda, Jackson, Calhoun, Wharton, Refugio, San Patricio, Nueces, Aransas, Brazos, Kerr, Kendall, Hays, Gillespie, Tom Green, Dallas and Hood Counties). Surveys conducted last week below Freeport at Bryan Beach still show no sign of present activity of the cactus moth infecting prickly pear plants on the dunes of the coast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Early detection is crucial in controlling the spread of this destructive pest. Look for these signs of infestation:<\/span><\/p>\n