Lifecycle

• Full-grown moths emerge from their cocoon near a cactus

• Moths mate the next day

• Moths start to lay eggs that night

• Eggs hatch

• Larvae gather together and penetrate the skin of  the cactus they are on

• Larvae consume and hollow out the cactus pad 

• Larvae move on, and eat more cacti

• Once matured, they leave for the ground and create cocoons 

• The process is repeated

STAGES OF GROWTH

• Spends a several days as a moth
  • They mate and lay eggs 
  • Do not eat 

Moth

Cocoon

• Spends most of its life as a larvae
• During this time they consume lots of cactus 

Larvae

• Spends a few weeks 
• During this time they change into moths

The total life span is about 2-2.5 months

Egg

• Spends about 40 days
• During this time they prepare to become larvae

Habitat

Mexico, USA, AUSTRALIA, caribbean

• Currently spreading 
• ​Also has been transferred to Australia 

• Lives in dry areas where cacti are abundant

• It's niche is to control the cacti population

• Success due to lack of predators, abundant amount of cacti

  • ​Spreading quickly consuming abundant cacti

Native Habitat: South America

• The native habitat of the cactus moth is largely unstudied 
• However, we do know that there are many predators to better control the cactus moth

  • However, these predators do not solely consume the cactus moth

Life style

Survival

• Requires: cacti, dry areas

 

Travel

• Rely on abiotic and/or biotic factors
• Hitchhike on another organism's travel
  • Ex: Humans, cacti, etc.
• Once in a new area, they start to destroy cactus population

 

Nocturnal

• They stay near the lower areas of the cacti 
• Rarely fly during day

 

Mating

• Cactus moths use scent.
• PHEROMONES initiate the process
• Then the spermatophore is passed
• After a few days, the eggs are laid

Interaction

Not much is known about the interactions of the cactus moth

Predators

• Main predator is an ant  
• Native habitat predators:
  • Apanteles alexanderi, Phyticiplex doddi and P. eremnus, and Epicoronimyia mundelli
    • ​Not useful in controlling moth population in US

 

 

 

 

Food

• Prickly Pear
  • Consumed solely during the larvae stage
  • In some states, 75% of prickly pear have been attacked

Pictures!!!

Larvae on cactus pad

Fully mature moth

Larvae on cactus pad

Larvae preparing to burrow into cactus

Larvae found inside the cactus

Summary

• Decimates the prickly pear population

• Born on the cactus--> consume the cactus--> consume other cactus --> spin themselves cocoon-->become moths--> lay eggs

• Little is known, scientists are still learning about them