Cochineal Scale Dactylopius opuntiae controls Opuntia dillenii in Bundala National Park, Sri Lanka
Abstract
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.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4038/cjs.v50i3.7912 | Journal eISSN: 2513-230X
Language: English
Page range: 297 - 301
Published on: Sep 6, 2021
Published by: Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
© 2021 M. C. A. Galappaththi, N. M. Patabendige, S. S. Amarasinghe, K. B. Ranawana, W. A. I. P. Karunaratne, published by Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.