Plant Health
Cactus Moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) |
|
 |
|
C. cactorum Photo Gallery (click on picture for larger image)
 |
Later
instar larva of C. cactorum showing size in centimeters. Photo by Sue Ellis, USDA, APHIS, PPQ |
|
|
 |
Female
pupa, cocoon, and male pupa of C. cactorum. Photo by Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
 |
Adult
female (above) and adult male (below) of C. cactorum pinned to a prickly pear cactus pad. Photo by Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
 |
Adult
female C. cactorum moth in the process of laying
an egg stick. Photo by Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
 |
Two
egg sticks on laid on the spines of Opuntia stricta. Photo by Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
 |
First
instar C. cactorum larvae in the process of hatching
from an egg stick. Photo by Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
 |
The
larvae of C. cactorum normally feed gregariously
inside the pad of the prickly pear. During the winter
months they may congregate inside the lower reachs of
the plant, but may appear on the outside of the plant
during sunny, warmer days. Photo by Ignacio Baez, USDA, ARS |
 |
A cross section of a prickly pear pad showing feeding galleries and several C. cactorum larvae feeding on the inside. Photo by Joel Floyd USDA, APHIS, PPQ |