NOSEMA (MICROSPORIDA: NOSEMATIDAE) SPECIES AS POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS OF CACTOBLASTIS CACTORUM (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE): SURVEYS FOR THE MICROSPORIDIA IN ARGENTINA AND SOUTH AFRICA
Abstract
Cactoblastis cactorum Berg is an invasive moth in North America where it damages and threatens many native Opuntia cacti. Nosema species of C. cactorum may have potential as biological control agents of the moth. Surveys for Nosema species were made in South Africa, where two of these Microsporidia were described from the moth and in Argentina where these pathogens may have originated. No Nosema were found in the C. cactorum larvae from South Africa and low levels of infection (0-6%) were found in the South American larvae. The low abundance of C. cactorum and the time of collection (austral summer) may be the reasons for the absence of or rarity of Nosema in these surveys. Winter collections of the larvae are suggested to obtain more abundant Nosema for evaluation as potential biocontrols of C. cactorum.Downloads
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