Invasive Argentine cactus moth spreads from Caribbean to Gulf Coast, endangering native prickly pears
The Argentine cactus moth, originally released for biological control in the Caribbean, has moved across the Gulf Coast to Texas, posing a serious threat to native prickly pear cacti.
Cactoblastis cactorum, known as the Argentine cactus moth, was released on Caribbean islands beginning in 1957 to control invasive prickly pear and later appeared in Florida in 1989. Since then it has spread westward along the Gulf Coast, establishing populations in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, where it attacks almost all Opuntia species. The larvae feed inside cactus pads, causing them to become hollow and susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, threatening rare native cacti like Opuntia corallicola.
Researchers are concerned about the moth's impact on the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where prickly pear supports ecosystems and the Mexican nopal industry. Federal and state agencies are employing the Sterile Insect Technique, releasing irradiated male moths to curb reproduction, while also exploring natural predators and monitoring with pheromone traps. Public outreach urges nurseries and gardeners to inspect plants for egg sticks to prevent further spread.
Why it matters
The moth threatens native ecosystems, endangered cacti, and a major agricultural crop across the southern U.S. and Mexico.
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