THe Cactus Moth

Cactoblastis cactorum

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

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