First record of Dactylopius confusus (Cockerell, 1929) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Dactylopiidae) in Michoacan, Mexico
Keywords:
Cochineal insect, Opuntia tomentosa, Opuntia ficus-indica, 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA.Abstract
In April 2017, several scale insect specimens in the family Dactylopiidae were collected from infested cladodes of wild Opuntia tomentosa Salm-Dyck, 1822 (Cactaceae) in the outskirts of Morelia City, Michoacan, Mexico. The specimens were identified as Dactylopius confusus (Cockerell, 1929) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Dactylopiidae). In this article, the presence of D. confusus in Michoacan state, Mexico, is recorded for the first time. A subsequent finding of D. confusus on Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., (1768) (Cactaceae) in October 2019 was confirmed with 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA.
