Cochineal Scale Dactylopius opuntiae controls Opuntia dillenii in Bundala National Park, Sri Lanka

Autor: K. B. Ranawana, W. A. I. P. Karunaratne, M. C. A. Galappaththi, N. M. Patabendige, S. S. Amarasinghe
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Ceylon Journal of Science. 50:297
ISSN: 2513-230X
2513-2814
Popis: Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawler) is an invasive plant species in Bundala National Park. The outstanding success of the cochineal insect, Dactylopius spp. in bio-control of the prickly pear, Opuntia spp. has been investigated worldwide. The present study reports the emergence of D. opuntiae as a pest of O. dillenii after several decades of its introduction to Sri Lanka. The intensity of infestation was 100% along three of the five transects surveyed and the overall damage was more than 50%. This recent outbreak of D. opuntiae may have resulted from an unnoticed existing population of D. opuntiae in the vicinity.
Databáze: OpenAIRE