Cochineal Scale <em>Dactylopius opuntiae</em> controls <em>Opuntia dillenii</em> in Bundala National Park, Sri Lanka
<em>Opuntia dillenii</em> (Ker Gawler) is an invasive plant species in Bundala National Park. The outstanding success of the cochineal insect, <em>Dactylopius</em> spp. in bio-control of the prickly pear, <em>Opuntia</em> spp. has been investigated worldwide. The...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Ceylon Journal of Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7912 |
| Summary: | <em>Opuntia dillenii</em> (Ker Gawler) is an invasive plant species in Bundala National Park. The outstanding success of the cochineal insect, <em>Dactylopius</em> spp. in bio-control of the prickly pear, <em>Opuntia</em> spp. has been investigated worldwide. The present study reports the emergence of <em>D. opuntiae</em> as a pest of <em>O. dillenii</em> 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 <em>D. opuntiae</em> may have resulted from an unnoticed existing population of <em>D. opuntiae</em> in the vicinity. |
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| ISSN: | 2513-2814 2513-230X |