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UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN. 256. Cactus-Feeding Insects. and Mites. JOHN MANN Director ^ The. Alan. Fletcher Research Station. Queensland Depart?ne7it of Lands Australia. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. WASHINGTON, 1969. D.C.. PRESS.

Publications of the United States National The scientific publications of the United. States National. Museum include two. Museum and. United States National. series, Proceedings of the United States National. Museum. Museum. Bulletin.. In these. series are. the collections. published original ardcles and monographs dealing with. and work. of the. Museum and. setting forth. newly acquired. facts. and technology. Copies and scientific organizations and. in the field of anthropology, biology, geology, history,. of each publication are distributed to libraries. and others interested in the various subjects. begun in 1878, are intended for the publication, in separate form, of shorter papers. These are gathered in volumes, octavo in size, with to specialists. The. Proceedings,. the publication date of each paper recorded in the table of contents of the. volume. In the. Bulletin series, the first of. which was issued. in 1875,. appear longer,. separate publications consisting of monographs (occasionally in several parts). and volumes. which are collected works on related subjects. Bulletins are depending on the needs of the presentation. Since 1 902, papers relating to the botanical collections of the Museum have been published in the Bulletin series under the heading Contributions from the United in. either octavo or quarto in size,. States National Herbarium.. This work forms number 256 of the. Bulletin series.. Frank A. Taylor Director, United States. U.S.. NationaiMuseum. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON 1969 :. For. sale. by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.G. 20402 - Price $1.25 (paper cover).

CONTENTS Page. Introduction. 1. Checklists. 9. Insects. and Mites Feeding on Cactus. 9. 9. Insects. 12. Mites Scavengers Feeding on Cactus. 12. Predators on Dactylopius Species. 12. Parasites of Cactus Insects. 13. Cactaceae and Their Associated Insects and Mites. 15. 29. Lepidoptera Lepidoptera: Phycitidae Laetilia Ragonot. 29 30 30. Laetilia coccidivora (Comstock). 30. Melitara Walker Melitara prodenialis Walker. 31. Melitara dentata (Grote). 32. Melitara doddalis Dyar. 33. Melitara Walker, sp. 35. Olycella. 37. Dyar. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). 38. Olycella nephelepasa (Dyar). 39 40. Olycella subumbrella (Dyar). 41. Olyca Walker Olyca phryganoides Walker Alberada Heinrich Alberada parabates (Dyar) Alberada holochlora (Dyar) Nanaia Heinrich Nanaia substituta Heinrich Nanaia Heinrich, sp Cactoblastis Ragonot Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) Cactoblastis doddi Heinrich. 42 42 42. 43 44 44 44 44 45 49 52. Cactoblastis mundelli Heinrich Cactoblastis bucyrus. 52. Dyar. Cahela Heinrich Cahela ponderosella (Barnes. 52. & McDunnough). 52. 54. Rumatha Heinrich Rumatha glaucatella (Hulst) Rumatha polingella (Dyar). 54 54 V.

CONTENTS. VI Lepidoptera: Phycitidae Yosemitia Ragonot. Yosemida. — Continued. Page. 55. graciella (Hulst). 55. Yosemitia longipennella (Hulst). 55. Tucumania Dyar Tucumania tapiacola Dyar Tucumania porrecta Dyar Eremberga Heinrich Eremberga leuconips (Dyar) Salambona Heinrich Salambona analamprella (Dyar). 56 56. Sigelgaita Heinrich. 61. 61. 62 62 62 63. Sigelgaita chilensis Heinrich. 63. Sigelgaita huanucensis Heinrich. 64. Sigelgaita transilis Heinrich. 64 64 64. Amalfrida Heinrich Araalfrida leithclla (Dyar). Ozamia Ragonot Ozamia lucidalia (Walker) Ozamia fuscomaculella (Wright) Ozamia fuscomaculella clarefacta Dyar Ozamia thalassophila Dyar Ozamia immorella (Dyar) Ozamia stigmaferella Dyar Ozamia hemilutella Dyar Ozamia punicans Heinrich Cactobrosis Dyar Cactobrosis fernaldialis (Hulst) Cactobrosis strigalis (Barnes. & McDunnough). Miscellaneous Phycitidae. Lepidoptera: Pyralidae Beebea Schaus Beebea guglielmi Schaus Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae Megastes Guen6e Megastes cyclades (Druce) Noctuelia Guen6e Noctuelia elautalis Grote. Mimorista Warren Mimorista flavidissimalis (Grote) Mimorista pulchellalis (Dyar) Mimorista Warren, sp Chrysobatys. Munroe. Chrysobatys cambogialis (Guen6e). Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae Metapleura Busck Metapleura potosi Busck. 65 65 65. 66 69 69 69 70 70 71 71. 72 72. 74 74 74 75 75 75 78 78. 80 80 82 82. 83 83 83 83. 83.

CONTENTS Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae. — Continued. VII Page. 84. Aerotypia Walsingham. Aerotypia pleurotella Walsingham. 84. Lepidoptera: Tineidae Dyotopasta Busck Dyotopasta yumaella Kearfott. 85. Tinea Linnaeus, sp Lepidoptera: Gracilariidae Marmara Clemens. 85. Marmara. 85 85. 86 86 86 86 86 86. opuntiella Busck. LEPmoPTERA: Miscellaneous. Species. Blastobasis Zeiler, sp. (Blastobasidae). Thecla melanis Drury Lepidoptera species undetermined. 87 87. COLEOPTERA Coleoptera: Cerambycidae. 87 87. Alcidion Dejean. 88 88. Alcidion cereicola Fisher. Coenopaeus Horn Coenopaeus palmeri (LeConte). 88 89 89. Archlagocheirus Dillon Archlagocheirus funestus (Thomson). Parmenosoma Schaeffer Parmenosoma griseum Schaeffer Moneilema Say Moneilema ulkei Horn Moneilema variolare Thomson Moneilema rugosipennis Fisher Moneilema armata LeConte Moneilema laevigata Bland Moneilema gigas LeConte Moneilema pollens Casey Moneilema pimalis Casey Moneilema spoliata Horn Moneilema obtusa LeConte Moneilema appressa LeConte Moneilema corrugans Casey Moneilema annulata Say Moneilema nigriventris Fisher Moneilema crassa LeConte Moneilema aterrima Fisher Moneilema blapsides Newman Moneilema crassipes Fisher Moneilema opuntiae Fisher Moneilema vittata Fisher Moneilema mexicana Fisher Moneilema ebenina Bates. 91. 91 91. 93 95 97. 97. 98 99 100. 100 100. 100 101 101 101. 102 102 102 102 103. 103 103 1. 03. 103.

CONTENTS. VIII. —. Coleoptera: Cerambycidae Continued Moneilema Say Continued Moneilema punctipennis Fisher Moneilema mundelli Fisher Moneilema albopicta White Coleoptera: Curculionidae Huarucus Marshall Huarucus cacti Marshall Onychobaris LeConte Onychobaris mystica Casey. —. 103 103. 104. 104 104 1. 04. 105 105 105. Cylindrocopturus Heller Cylindrocopturus biradiatus Gerstaeckeria. Page. Champion. Champion. 105 105. Gerstaeckeria clathrata (LeConte). 106. Gerstaeckeria doddi Fisher. 106. Gerstaeckeria porosa (LeConte). 106. Gerstaeckeria hubbardi (LeConte). 107. Gerstaeckeria nobilis (LeConte). 107. Gerstaeckeria basalis (LeConte). 108. Gerstaeckeria cactophaga (Pierce). 108. Gerstaeckeria elegans Fisher. 108. Gerstaeckeria unicolor (Fisher). 108. Gerstaeckeria cubaecola (Fisher). 108. Gerstaeckeria insulana (Fisher). 108. Cactophagus LeConte Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) Cactophagus spinolae var. validus LeConte Cactophagus spinolae var. rubroniger Fisher Cactophagus fahraei (Gyllenhal) Cactophagus striatoforatus (Gyllenhal) Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae Disonycha Chevrolat Disonycha varicornis Horn Chrysomelidae species undetermined Coleoptera: Anobiidae Tricorynus Waterhouse, spp Coleoptera: Buprestidae. 109. DiPTERA. 114. Diptera: Cecidomyiidae Asphondylia Loew. 114. 109 Ill. 112. 112 112 112. 112. 112 113. 113 113 113. 114. Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Cecidomyia Meigen. 115. Cecidomyia opuntiae (Felt) Mayetiola Keiffer Mayetiola KeifTer, species A Mayetiola Keiffer, species B. 122. Mayetiola Keiffer, species Neolasioptera Felt, sp. 1. C. 22. 122 122. 122 123 123.

CONTENTS. IX Page. Diptera: Lonchaeldae. 123. Lonchaea Fallen Lonchaea alexanderi Br^thes Dasiops Rondani Dasiops saltana (Townsend). 123. 123. 124 124. Hymenoptera: Ghalcididae Torymus Dalman Torymus bifasciipennis (Gahan) Rileya. 124 124 124. Ashmead. Rileya opuntiae. 125. Gahan. 125 125. Heteroptera: Coreidae Chelinidea Uhler. 125. Ghelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). 128. Chelinidea canyona Hamlin. 129. Chelinidea hunteri Hamlin. 131. Chelinidea vittiger Uhler. 131. 133. Narnia StSl Narnia pallidicornis Stal Narnia snowi Van Duzee Narnia femorata StSl Leptoglossus Guerin-Meneville Leptoglossus dentatus Berg. 134 135. 136 136. 136. Leptoglossus cinctus (Herrich-Schaeffer). 136. Leptoglossus condor (Walker). 137. Leptoglossus subauratus Distant. 137 137. Leptoglossus Guerin-Meneville, sp. 137. Heteroptera: Capsidae. 137. Hesperolabops Kirk Hesperolabops picta Hunter, Pratt. &. Mitchell. 137. Homoptera. 137. Homoptera: Coccidae. 138. Dactylopius Costa. 1. 38. Cochineal Insects: History. 138. Forms Recognized Undetermined Species Host Specificity Enemies Habits and Life History. 139. Generations Effect. on Host Plant. 140 141 141. 143. 144 145. Dactylopius coccus Costa. 146. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. 146. Dactylopius confusus Cockerell. 147. Dactylopius sp. near confusus Cockerell. 148. Dactylopius ceylonicus Green. 148. Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell. 149.

X. CONTENTS. — Continued. Homoptera: Coccidae. Diplacaspis Jacobson. Diplacaspis echinocacti (Bouch6). Acarina: Tetranychidae Tetranychus Dufour Tetranychus opuntiae Banks Acarina: Eriophyidae Eriophyes. Von. Siebold, sp. Page 1. 50. 150 151 151 151. 152 152. Scavengers. 152. Bibliography. 155.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS. AND MITES.



INTRODUCTION NSECTS AND MITES. THAT ATTACK CACTUS have been. the subject of. considerable inquiry during recent years in the United States of. America, India, Ceylon, South Africa, and Madagascar, as well as. On. in Australia.. behalf of some of these countries, further investi-. gations have been. made. in the. United States and Mexico.. amount by officers of the Commonwealth Prickly Pear Board and by the Queensland Department of Lands during 1921-1939 and 1958-59, this publication has been prepared. The Commonwealth Prickly Pear Board was an independent organization representing a cooperative effort by the Governments of the Commonwealth and the States of Queensland and New South Wales, and was financed entirely by them. It was appointed in 1920 expressly to attempt control of prickly pears in Australia by establishing insects and mites that fed on these cacti. These were to be imported from North and South America after host-restriction tests had been conducted to verify their host specificity. Successful accomplishment of the great experiment became apparent in 1939, and the Board was disbanded. Continuance of any further investigations and the maintenance of a watching brief was left in the hands of the two States. In Queensland the Department of Lands established a Biological Section with laboratory, glasshouse, and insectary facilities in which to carry on the work. New South Wales. To. place on record for these and other investigations the vast. of information collected. continued with a State Prickly Pear Commission, The information in this publication has been extracted by. and A.. P.. Dodd from. J.. Mann. the overseas reports of L. F. Hitchcock, R. C.. Dodd, A. R. Taylor, and J. Mann on their investigaand South America; from information in the files of the Alan Fletcher Research Station, Queensland Department of Lands; and from works listed in the bibliography (p. 155). During the investigations, types of the new species reared by the Mundell, A.. P.. tions in North, Central,. various investigators, as well as specimens of most of the species studied,. United States National Museum. record of an insect attacking cactus dates back several hundred years. Alexander von Humboldt has said (1812) that there is. were placed. The. in the. earliest. 1. 263-417—68. 2.

—. :. 2. U.S.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 25 6. every indication that cultivation of the cochineal Dadylopius Costa was conducted in Mexico and Central America for centuries before the voyage of Columbus. the industry after their occupation of. coccus. many. The Spaniards encouraged. Mexico and. as early as 1592. passed laws to prevent adulteration of the product. In the 18th century, possibly earlier, other species of Dadylopius Costa attacking prickly. pear were recognized under the general name "wild cochineals." Some of these forms were taken to other countries with the idea of establishing. a cochineal. industry. Green, for. Dadylopius ceylonicus. example, was introduced into India in 1795. Between 1877 and 1895 several other insects were found breeding in cactus plants. Among the earlier published records, mention can. be made of the following and other works). (see the. bibliography for the. titles. of these. In 1877 E. A. Popenoe recorded Moneilema annulata Say on Opuntia Tournefort in Kansas.. In 1886 Eugene Duges described and figured the larvae and pupae of Moneilema variolare. Thomson and Cadophagus. (Gyllenhal). spinolae. breeding in Opuntia in Mexico.. In 1889 G. H. Horn published the finding of immature stages of Coenopaeus palmeri (LeConte) in stems of Opuntia bernardina. Engelmann. in California.. In 1891 C. V. Riley recorded the breeding of Melitara prodenialis. Walker from Opuntia. in Florida in 1877.. In 1892 V. L. Kellogg described and illustrated. all. stages of. Melitara dentata (Grote) breeding in Opuntia missouriensis. De. Candolle. in Colorado.. In 1895 H. G. Hubbard published an account of the oviposition. and. larval habits of Melitara prodenialis. Walker attacking Opuntia. in. Florida.. Further additions to tlie knowledge of cactus insects were made between 1896 and 1912, mostly in short published notes by various writers.. In 1912 appeared the. first. comprehensive treatment of the. insects. Department of Agriculture Entomology Bulletin The Principal Cactus Insects of the United States, by W. D. Hunter, F. C. Pratt, and J. D. Mitchell. This excellent work describes the life history and habits of various species, summarizes previous information, and provides a very useful bibliography. The bulletin listed 324 species of insects, 92 of which were recorded as injurious species, of the Cactaceae in the U.S.. either attacking direcdy or associated with cactus plants in the United States.. It. America.. included also certain species from Mexico and Central.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES. Commonwealth. 3. comwhich visits to most of the larger prickly pear regions of North and South America were made as follows: Officers of the. menced. Prickly Pear Board in 1921. their investigations, during. United States of America: A.. P.. Dodd,. J. C.. Hamlin, L, F. Hitch-. cock, E. Mortensen, J. Mann, R. C. Mundell, A. R. Taylor, Mexico: L. F. Hitchcock, E. Mortensen, J. Mann, R. C. Mundell,. A. R. Taylor.. Central American republics:. E. Mortensen.. Indies: L. F, Hitchcock, J. Mann. Venezuela and Colombia: L. F. Hitchcock.. West. Brazil: J.. Mann,. E. Mortensen, R. C. Mundell.. Paraguay: J. Mann, R. C. Mundell, Uruguay: A. P. Dodd. Argentina: W. B. Alexander, G. R. Bassingthwaighte, A. J. Mann, R. C. Mundell. Chile, Peru, Ecuador: R. C. Mundell.. P.. Dodd,. Their reports, unpublished, are available in the files of the Biological Section, Department of Lands, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. This publication deals with the species considered to be definitely it does include, however, certain. restricted to the family Cactaceae;. dipterous scavengers which, although not restricted. to. these host. plants, breed in rotting cactus so generally that they should be classed. as cactus feeders.. &. Pratt. is. The. mentioned. capsid bug Hesperolabops picta Hunter, Mitchell, briefly,. Other scavengers, flower. although. visitors,. it is. known. and incidental. have other hosts. have been. to. insects. omitted.. Secondly, the discussion of the of the various insects. is. life histories,. habits,. and. distribution. based on the results of the Board's investiga-. tions. Cactus insects which have been recorded by other observers but which were not encountered by these Officers have been omitted, except that the occurrence of a few outstanding forms, such as the. pyralid. Beebea. Schaus and been noted.. guglielmi. griseum Schaeffer, has. the. cerambycid Parmenosoma. In the course of the investigations between 150 and 160 cactus feeding forms were recognised; at least 50 of these proved science.. Various larval forms encountered during brief. visits to. new. to. certain. some of these certainly could have been new. The investigation was concerned primarily with the insect enemies of the genus Opuntia, especially the prickly pear, or Platyopuntia, section. In the United States of America passing attention was given to the insect enemies of other types of cacti, while in South America certain observations on insects attacking Cerei were. countries or districts were not reared;. made by. the author, particularly in 1958-59.. Had. the whole of. tlie.

4. U.S.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 25 6. Cactaceae been studied as comprehensively as the prickly pears,. number. certain that the. it is. among The Lepi-. of species of cactus insects, particularly. would have been increased materially. doptera that have been reared from cacti other than Opuntia have proved to be distinct species from those attacking prickly pears and the Lepidoptera,. Cylindropuntias.. A. considerable. the distribution,. amount. of information has been secured concerning. history,. life. and habits. of. many. species,. but in other. cases records are incomplete.. a very distinct plant group v^ith peculiar growth and habit, has its own insect fauna. One finds not only species but whole genera and even groups of genera that, so far as is known, are restricted to prickly pears and other types of cactus plants. Almost without exception those insects which are primarily cactus feeders do not attack other plants. Furthermore,. The family Cactaceae, being. characteristics of. insects. which are general feeders rarely turn their attention is generally true even of omnivorous. Cactaceae; this statement sects. to in-. such as grasshoppers.. The. prickly-pear pest in Australia flourished unchecked by native. insects or. by introduced. insects of. polyphagous habits; there are only. a few records of incidental feeders. And within the Cactaceae there restriction, especially. among. is. a considerable degree of host. the Lepidoptera. This host restriction. rarely specific, however, but is confined to plants of the same type. Thus, the moth borers infesting prickly pears may attack most species of Platyopuntia in their range of distribution, but they do not attack the is. Cylindropuntias. Similarly the phycitid borers of such cactus types. and. as Echinocactus Platyopuntias. Echinocereus. or Cylindropuntias.. phycitid fruit. enemy. have not been recorded from either On the other hand, the Argentine. Ozarnia hemilutella. Dyar. feeds in Cereus as well as. in Opuntia fruit.. Among the Coleoptera, members of the genus Moneilema Say feed mainly on Opuntia; various species attack both Platyopuntias and Cylindropuntias in the same district and occasionally they have been recorded from other cactus hosts. Most of the Gerstaeckeria. Champion. is an LeConte weevils attack but have not been found in. weevils seem to be confined to prickly pears, but one species. enemy. of Cylindropuntias.. the prickly pears Nopalea. The and. Cactophagus Cereus,. Cylindropuntias.. The. coreid bugs of the genus Chelinidea Uhler are Opuntia feeders,. generally attacking both prickly pear and cylindrical forms, but one species seems to be restricted to Cylindropuntias.. The. other coreid. genera Narnia StSl and Leptoglossus Guerin Meneville, are inclined to pierce the fruit of various Cactaceae..

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES. The. 5. cochineal coccids Dactylopius Costa are confined to Opuntia and. One species, D. newsteadi Cockerell, be limited to Cylindropuntia hosts, but the others. the closely related genus Nopalea.. would appear. to. are prickly pear enemies, since the Nopalea food plants are typical prickly pears.. many. Although. cactus insects in the United States and Mexico. attack both Platyopuntias. and Cylindropuntia s, the. a distinct insect complex.. From western Texas. moth. insects, the. and Alberada. borers Cahela ponderosella (Barnes. parabates (Dyar). and. tlie. & McDunnough). cerambycid Coenopaeus palmeri. (LeConte), are associated with various plants of. Texas and. group has. latter. to California, three. including. this type,. New. Mexico, O.fulgida in Arizona, and 0. prolifera and 0. echinocarpa in California. Attempts to rear the two phycitids on prickly pears were unsuccessful, but occasional examples of Coenopaeus palmeri (LeConte) were bred on these plants in cages. Chelinidea hiinteri Hamlin in southern Arizona appears to be 0. imbricata in western. The two moth. restricted to the cylindrical forms. jnundelli. Heinrich and Nanaia. Cylindropuntia 0.. The. borers Cactoblastis. Heinrich attacking the Peruvian were not found associated with prickly pears.. exaltata. substituta. slender-jointed Cylindropuntia 0. leptocaulis of. Texas and ad-. jacent districts in Mexico possesses four distinct insect enemies: the. moth borers. Albdrada holochlora (Dyar). the weevil Gerslaeckeria clathrata. Horn. However, as. sonycha varicornis. and Rumatha. tliis. fiea. beede Di-. plant usually occurs in areas. where other Cylindropuntias are absent, the is. glaucatella (Hulst),. (LeConte), and the. restriction to. one host. not definitely established.. In addition to host restriction, there. is. considerable host preference,. more detail later. Thus, Uhler and Narnia snowi Van Duzee occur in New Mexico and Arizona, where various Platyopuntias and Cylindropuntias are common plants; C. vittiger Uhler is rarely found on the or perhaps host adaptability, to be discussed in the bugs Chelinidea. vittiger. cylindrical forms, while JV. snowi fruit of these plants.. great. many. The. Van Duzee. obviously prefers the. seed midge Asphondylia opuntiae Felt attacks a. species of prickly pear;. it. has been reared on occasion from. Cylindropuntia fruit in Texas and Mexico but not in Arizona, where. heavy infestations have frequently been encountered in prickly pears. In Argentina, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) has been recorded from many prickly pear hosts of varying types of growth, but it has not been recorded as an. On. enemy. of the very. the other hand, 0. sulphurea. is. common. prickly pear 0. sulphur ea.. the usual host of the closely related. Cactoblastis doddi Heinrich, which has not been encountered attacking such normal hosts of C. cactorum (Berg) as Opuntia utkilio and 0. discolor.. Host preference. is. very marked. among. the cochineals Dactylobius.

6. U.S.. Each. Costa.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETEST 25 6. species usually possesses several hosts. range of limitation in the choice of restriction,. its. but shows a definite. food plants. In addition to this. one finds a considerable variation. in the degree of success. with which Dactylopuis attacks its range of hosts it may increase freely and cause much damage to one species of Opuntia, yet multiply slowly ;. and have. little. appreciable effect on another Opuntia seemingly closely. related to the favored food plant.. The. cactus-feeding insects. and mites are. classified. in the. list. on. pages 9-12, their predators and parasites are shown on pages 12-14,. and the. cacti they attack. clude the scavenging. on pages 15-28. The. flies. classification does not in-. of the families Syrphidae. and Stratiomyidae. nor the Argentine lycaenid butterfly Thecla melanis Drury, the larvae of. which probably feed on other plants as well as Cactaceae. The. capsid Hesperolabops picta Hunter, Pratt is. mainly a cactus feeder, although. Among. Mitchell. list. included, since. known. it. in the larval. and the same is true of one chrysomelid. makes no pretensions of being complete. For example,. the Curculionidae, various species of Gerstaeckeria. by other. is. reported to have other hosts.. the Phycitidae are included various forms. stage only,. The. &. it is. in. Champion recorded. have not been added. is immediately conscious of the omission of certain groups. There is only a single record of one representative of the great Lepidopterous family Noc-. When. authorities as cactus insects. considering the variety of cactus insects, one. tuidae as a cactus feeder. Again,. family Pentatomidae of prickly pear. is. among. the Heteroptera the large. not represented, although the succulent growth. and other. cacti should be particularly attractive to. these plant-sucking groups.. Obviously there are dominant groups among the cactus insects, which would mean that the cactus fauna have developed mainly along certain lines. The most important group is found among the Phycitidae, with about 40 species divided among a number of closely related genera, all of which are restricted to cactus insects. Insects in these genera occur in all cactus areas of importance, except Central America where further investigations would probably reveal their presence, and they have been found from the northern limits of the cactus region in North America to the southern limits in Argentina and Chile. The Phycitidae are internal feeders within the main stems, cladodes, and fruit.. The groups next in importance are the cerambycid genus Moneilema Say and the curculionid genus Gerstaeckeria Champion, the former with about 24 species and the latter with at least 10 species. Species of Moneilema are found from Colorado in the United States to southern Mexico, while Gerstaeckeria weevils occur in the United States, Mexico,.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES and the West. 7. Other genera or groups with several cactus species genus Cactophagus LeConte, in southern United Central America; to the coreid genus Chelindca Uhler, from the States Canadian border south to Venezuela; the closely related coreid genera Narnia Stal and Leptoglossus Guerin Meneville, covering a wide area from Colorado in the United States to Argentina; and the homopterous Indies.. are: the curculionid. genus. Dactylopiiis Costa,. occurring throughout the cactus regions.. Roughly 80 percent of the true cactus insects is placed of which all members are restricted to cactus hosts.. in genera.

Plate Top: Dense prickly pear {Opuntia. 1. (Opposite). inermis) in belar {Casuarina). scrub prior to. October 1926. Center: Same area three years later (October 1929). The prickly pear has been destroyed by Cadoblastis cactorum. Cochineal insects {Dactylopiiis opuntiae) can be seen on two regrowth segments in left foreground. Bottom: The same area, reclaimed from prickly pear and under pasture a condition typical of the transformation insect attack, Chinchilla, Queensland,. —. of 30,000,000 acres of land..

w. .y*^s. •^-y. yT^-^^/X^l. >%. ^.

Plate. 2. Quarantine Insectary at the Alan Fletcher Research Station, Department of Lands, Sherwood, Biisbane, Queensland..

Plate Cactoblastis cactoruni. d, larvae. (Berg):. a,. on segment of Opuntia. showing pupa.. 3. P'emale moth; b, male moth; intrmis; e,. female at. rest. c,. on twig;. egg f.,. stick;. cocoon,.

Plate 4. One. day's collection of approximately 25 million eggs of Cactohlastis cactorum. from the breeding cages at Chinchilla, Queensland, Austi-alia, during the peak of the distribution campaign. Below: Segment of Opuntia inermis ^vith cuticle removed to show C. cactorum larvae feeding within..

Plate 5 Three egg sticks of Cactoblastis cactorum on a young segment of Opuntia inermis. Below: Regrowth from destroyed 0. inermis, showing feeding marks oi Chelinidea tabulata, cochineal {Dadylopins opun(iae), and egg sticks of Cactoblastis cactorum,. October 1929..

Plate 6 Harrisia martinii (see footnote, p. 16) remains a formidable pest in. Queensland,. Australia.. Plate Cochineal (Dactylopius aurantiaca at sp.. 7. (Opposite). opuntiae) on a segment of Opuntia iner?nis. Below: 0. Warwick, Queensland, being attacked by cochineal {Dactylopius. near confusus Cockerell)..



Plate 8 Fruit of Opuntia lindheimeri at Sherwood, Queensland, attacked opuntiae. fruit.. Note abnormal production of. fruit. from. fruit,. by Asplwndjlia and of cladodes from.

CHECKLISTS Forms here recognized may be located erence. is. in the table of contents.. A. text ref-. given for those doubtfully associated with cactus. Scientific names. are printed in. roman type. Insects. rather than itaUc to increase readability.. and Mites Feeding on Cactus INSECTS. INSECTS. —. Continued. —Continued — Continued. Homoptera: Coccidae. Heteroptera: Coreidae. Dactylopius Costa. Chelinidea Uhler. canyona Hamlin. newsteadi Cockerell (the. hunteri Hamlin. confusus Cockerell of. tabulata (Burmeister) vittiger. Leptoglossus Guerin-Meneville cinctus. some authors) opuntiae Lichtenstein (the. Uhler (Herrich-SchaefFer). tomentosus (Lamarck) of. some authors) Diplacaspis Jacobson. concolor (Walker). echinocacti (Bouch6). dentatus Berg. subauratus Distant. Coleoptera: Cerambycidae. Narnia StSl inornata Distant (see p. 133). femora ta Stal. Alcidion Dejean cereicola Fisher. Archlagocheirus Dillon pallidicornis StSl. funestus (Thomson) Coenopaeus Horn. snowi Van Duzee Heteroptera: Capsidae. Hesperolabops. niger. Kuk. Horn. (see p. 88). palmeri (LeConte). picta Hunter, Pratt. &. Mitchell (not Uhler). MoneUema Say albopicta White. annulata Say. Homoptera: Coccidae. appressa LeConte. Dactylopius Costa argentinus. armata LeConte. Dominguez. (see p. 140). ceylonicus Green. aterrima Fisher blapsides. (. = indicus. Green, capensis Green). Newman. corrugans Casey crassa. LeConte. coccus Costa. crassipes Fisher. confusus Cockerell. ebenina Bates. sp.. near confusus Cockerell. greenii Cockerell. (. = confusus. capensis Green) (seep. 140). gigas. LeConte. laevigata Bland. mexicana Fisher. 9.

10. U.S.. —. INSECTS. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 256 INSECTS. Continued. Coleoptera: Cerambycidae. —. Cont.. — Continued. Moneilema Say. —. Disonycha Chevrolat varicomis. mundelii Fisher. Continued. Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae. Horn. nigriventris Fisher. Coleoptera: Anobiidae. obtusa LeConte. Tricorynus. opuntiae Fisher. (=Catorama. pimalis Casey. Gu6rin Meneville). pollens Casey. Waterhouse, spp.. punctipennis Fisher. Coleoptera: Buprestidae. rugosipennis Fisher. semipunctata LeConte (see p. 91). spoliata. Lepidoptera: Phycitidae. Horn. subrugosa Bland. Sp. undetennined (see p. 113). Alberada Heinrich (see p. 91). Horn variolare Thomson ulkei. bidentella (Dyar) (see p. 42). holochlora (Dyar). parabates (Dyar). vittata Fisher. Amalafrida Heinrich. Parmenosoma SchaefFer. leitliella. griseum Schaeffer. (Dyar). Ragonot bucyrus Dyar. Cactoblastis. Coleoptera: Curculionidae. cactorum (Berg). Cactophagus LeConte. doddi Heinrich mundelii Heinrich. fahraei (Gyllenhal). spinolae (Gyllenhal) spinolae var. rubroniger. spinolae var. validus. LeConte. striatoforatus Gyllenhal. Cylindrocopturus Heller biradiatus. Gerstaeckeria basilis. ronnai (Brethes) (see. p. 44). Cactobrosis (Dyar). Fisher. Champion Champion. (LeConte). cactophaga (Pierce) clathrata (LeConte). cubaecola (Fisher). doddi Fisher elegans Fisher. hubbardi (LeConte) insulana (Fisher). LeConte porosa LeConte nobilis. unicolor (Fisher). Huarucus Marshall cacti Marshall. Listroderes costirostris obliquus. (Klug) (see p. 104). Onychobaris LeConte mystica Casey. fernaldialis (Hulst). Dyar. insignatella. (see p. 71). longipennella (Hampson) (see p. 71). maculifera strigalis. Dyar. (Barnes. (see p. 71). &. McDunnough) Cahela Heinrich ponderosella (Barnes. &. McDunnough) Eremberga Heinrich creabates (Dyar) (see p. 61) insignis. Heinrich. (see p. 61). leuconips (Dyar) Erelieva quantulella (Hulst) (see p. 72). Laetilia. Ragonot. coccidivora (Comstock). (=Zophodia. dilatifasciella. Ragonot) Also a predator of Dactylopius spp..

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES INSECTS. — Continued. Lepidoptera: Phycitidae. —Cont.. Melitara Walker boUii (Zeller) (see p. 35). dentata (Grote). INSECTS— Continued Lepidoptera: Pyralidae. Beebea Schaus guglielmi Schaus Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae. Dyar prodenialis Walker Nanaia Heinrich doddalis. substituta Heinrich. Chrysobatys. phryganoides Walker. Megastes Guenee. Mimorista Warren flavidissimalis (Grote). Dyar. pulchellalis (Dyar). junctolineella (Hulst). Noctuelia Guen6e. junctolineella pectinatella. (Hampson). Munroe. cambogialis (Guenee) cyclades (Druce). Olyca Walker Olycella. 11. elautalis. Grote. (see p. 37). nephelepasa (Dyar). subumbrella (Dyar). Ozamia Ragonot. Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae. Aerotypia Walsingham pleurotella. fuscomaculella (Wright). fuscomaculella clarefacta. Dyar (=odiosella Hulst) Dyar. Walsingham. Metapleura Busck potosi Busck Lepidoptera* Blastobasidae. hemilutella. immorella (Dyar) lucidalis (Walker). Blastobasis Zeller, sp.. Lepidoptera: Tineidae. punicans Heinrich. Dyotopasta Busck. Dyar thalassophila Dyar. Tinea Linnaeus,. stigmaferella. Rumatha Heinrich bihinda (Dyar) (see p. 54) glaucatella (Hialst) polingella (Dyar). Salambona Heinrich analamprella (Dyar) (also. a predator of Dactylopius. yumaella Kearfott sp.. Lepidoptera: Gracilariidae. Marmara Clemens opuntiella Busck. Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae. Thecla Fabricius melanis Drury. spp.). Diptera: Cecidomyiidae. Sigelgaita Heinrich. Heinrich. chilensis. huanucensis Heinrich transilis. Heinrich. Sosipatra anthophila (Dyar). fieldiella. arizonensis Felt (see p. 114). opuntiae Felt betheli Cockerell (see p. 114). Cecidomyia Meigen (=Itonida. (see p. 72). Tucumania Dyar porrecta Dyar tapiacola Dyar Yosemitia Ragonot didactica Dyar. Asphondylia Loew. Felt). opuntiae (Felt). Mayetiola Kieffer (=Phytophaga. Rondani) (see p. 55). (Dyar) (see p. 55). graciella (Hulst). longipennella (Hulst). species. A. species. B. species. G. Neolasioptera Felt, sp..

12. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 256. U.S.. INSECTS. — Continued. —Continued. INSECTS. Hymenoptera: Ghalcididae. Diptera: Lonchaeidae. — Gont.. Torymus Dalman (=GaIlimome Dasiops Rondani sal tana. Spinola). (Townsend). bifasciipennis. Lonchaea Fall6n. (Gahan). MITES. alexanderi Br^thes. Acarina: Tetranychidae. Tetranychus Dufour. Hymenoptera: Ghalcididae Rileya. Ashmead. opuntiae. opuntiae Banks Acarina: Eriophyidae. Gahan. Eriophyes. Von. Siebold, sp.. Scavengers Feeding on Cactus. —Gont. Volucella Geoffrey— Continued. Diptera: Syrphide. Diptera: Syrphidae. Gopestylum Macquart marginatum Say Volucella Geoffrey. avida Osten-Sacken. satur Osten-Sacken scutellata. Meigen. spinigera. Wiedemann. deceptor (Curran) esuriens Fabricius. eugenia Willis ton. Macquart Townsend. fasciata. fornax. fraudulenta Williston pusilla. Macquart. Diptera: Stratiomyiidae. Hermetia. Latreille. aurata Bellardi (== chrysophila (Loew)) illucens. Linnaeus. hunteri Goquillett. Predators on Dactylopius Species Lepidoptera: Phycitidae Laetilia coccidivora. (=Zophodia. Goleoptera: Coccinellidae. Gomstock. dilatifasciella. Ragonot) Laetilia coccidivora quadricolorella. (Dyar). (=Valdivia quadricolorella Dyar). Salambona analamprella (Dyar). — Gont.. Hyperaspis fimbriolata. Melsheimer. Scymnus hornii Gorham Scymnus intrusus Horn Diptera: Syrphidae. Baccha Fabricius Salpinogaster conopida (Philippi) (=nigriventris. Goleoptera: Coccinellidae. Gybocephalus nigritulus Le Conte Gryptolaemus montrouzieri. Mulsant Hyperaspis trilurcata Schaeffer. Bigot). Diptera: Agromyzidae. Leucopis bellula Williston Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae. Sympherobius amiculus Fitch.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES. 13. Parasites of Cactus Insects Hosts. Parasites. Hymenoptera: ghalcididae Brachyineria (Pseudobrachymeria). Melitara Walker. Melitara prodenialis Walker. pedalis (Cresson). Melitara dentata (Grote). Melitara doddalis Dyar Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). Alberada parabates (Dyar). Ozamia. fuscomaculella clarefacta. (Dyar). Brachymeria (Pseudobrachymeria) cactoblastidis Blanchard. Cactoblastis doddi Heinrich. Sympiesomorpha Ashmead,. MImorista. sp. (this. flavidissimalis. Grote. could be a hyperparasite attacking Eiphosoma Cresson, spp.). Torymus. bifasciipennis. (Gahan). Mayetiola Kieffer,. sp. C.. Hymenoptera: ichneumonidae Temelucha sinuatus (Cushman). Melitara prodenialis Walker Melitara doddalis Dyar. Temelucha Temelucha. facilis. (Cresson). Foerster, sp.. Melitara doddalis Dyar. Cahela ponderosella Barnes. &. McDunnough Trichomma Wesmael,. sp.. Melitara dentata (Grote). Baryceros albosignata (Blanchard). Nanaia substituta Heinrich. Chelonus electus (Cresson) (=texanus. Melitara doddalis Dyar. Alberada parabates (Dyar). Cresson). Ozamia fuscomaculella Dyar Cryptus Fabricius,. sp.. clarefacta. Cactoblastis cactorum Berg. Podogaster Brull6, sp.. Cactoblastis cactorum Berg. Eiphosoma annulatum Cresson (=bruesi Cushman) Eiphosoma te.xanum Cresson. Mimorista. flavidissimalis (Grote). Hymenoptera: braconidae Apanteles etiellae Viereck. Melitara prodenialis Walker. Cahela ponderosella (Barnes. &. McDunnough) Apanteles megathymi Riley. ». Olycella nephelepasa (Dyar). Apanteles cactobrosidis Blanchard. Megastes cyclades (Druce) Nanaia substituta Heinrich. Apanteles alexanderi Br^thes. Cactoblastis cactorum Berg Cactoblastis doddi Heinrich. Tucumania tapiacola Dyar Salambona analamprella (Dyar).

14. U.S.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 256 Hosts. Parasites. Apanteles mimoristae Muesebeck. Mimorista. Apanteles Foerster, sp.. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). >>. Ozamia punicans Heinrich Melitara doddalis Dyar. Bracon hebetor Say. Vipio moneilemae. flavidissimalis (Grote). Ozamia fuscomaculella clarefacta Dyar Moneilema variolare Thomson. Gahan. Hymen optera: encyrtibae Moneilema. Ooencyrtus ovidivorus Girault. ulkei. Horn. Hymenoptera: scelionidae Hadronotus atxiscapus Gahan Hadronotus Foerster, sp.. Narnia pallidicornis Stal Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). Chelinidea canyona Hamlin Chelinidea vittiger Uhler. Hymenoptera: eulophidae Tetrastichus gerstaeckeriae. Gahan. Gerstaeckeria porosa (LeConte). Hymenoptera: pteromalidae Neocatolaccus moneilemae. Gahan. Moneilema. ulkei. Horn. Diptera: tachinidae Phorocera texana Aldrich. &. Webber. Melitara prodenialis Walker Melitara dentata (Grote) Melitara doddalis Dyar. Melitara Walker. sp.. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst) Olycella nephelepasa (Dyar). Phorocera comstocki Williston. Melitara doddalis Dyar Melitara dentata (Grote). Phorocera Robineau-Desvoidy,. sp.. Megastes cyclades (Druce). Lespesia aletiae Riley. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). Lespesia Robineau-Desvoidy, sp.. Melitara prodenialis Walker. Megastes cyclades (Druce) Clausicella floridensis. (Townsend). Epicoronimyia mundelli (Blanchard). Alberada parabates (Dyar) Cactoblastis doddi Heinrich. Tucumania Trichopoda pennipes (Fabricius). tapiacola. Dyar. Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister) Chelinidea canyona Hamlin Chelinidea vittiger Uhler Narnia pallidicornis Stal. Goleoptera: colydudae Bothrideres cactophagi Schwarz. Catophagus spxnolae (Gyllenhal).

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES. 15. Cactaceae and Their Associated Insects and Mites Cactus Species. Insect or. Mite. Britton. &. Moneilema mundelli Fisher. pentagonus (Linnaeus) Britton. &. Ghelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). Acanthocereus. (Berger). Rose. Rose. Huarucus. Borzicactus Riccobono. (Vaupel). acanthurus. Britton. &. cacti Marshall. (see p. 86). Rose Cactus caesius. &. (Wendland) Britton. Ghelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). Rose (Engelmann). gigantea. Garnegiea Britton. &. PCactobrosis fernaldialis Hulst. Rose. Cereus [Hermann] Miller. Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) spinolae rubroniger Fisher striatoforatus Gyllenhal. Ghelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). Narnia pallidicornis Stii Leptoglossus cinctus (Herrich-Schaeffer). Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouch6 aethiops. Haworth. Dactylopius. sp.. near confusus Cock-. erell. alacriportanus Pfeiffer. validus. Haworth. Ozamia punicans Heinrich stigmaferella Dyar hemilutella Dyar Alcidion cereicola Fisher. variabilis Pfeiffer. (see p. 73). pernambucensis Lemaire. Ghrysobatys cambogialis (Guenee). Cleistocactus Lemaire, sp.. (see p.. Copiapoa cinerea. (see p. 113). (Philippi). 46). Coryphantha aggregata Engelmann Britton & Rose. Yosemitia graciella (Hulst). Denmoza rhodacantha (Salm-Dyck). Cactoblastis bucyrus. Britton. &. Dyar. Rose. Echinocactus Link. &. Otto. Echinocereus Engelmann. Moneilema albopicta White Gactobrosisstrigal is Barnes. & McDun-. nough Ghelinidea canyona Hamlin. polyacanthus Engelmann. Yosemitia graciella (Hulst). Eremberga leuconips (Dyar) Moneilema gigas LeConte.

16. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 256. U.S.. Insect or. Cactus Species. Echinocereus viridiflorus Engelmann rigidissimus. (Engelmann) Rose. Mite. Yosemitia graciella (Hulst) Cactobrosis. strigalis. (Barnes. &. (Barnes. &. (Barnes. &. McDunnough) Engel-. (Scheidweiler). pectinatus. Cactobrosis. strigalis. McDunnough). mann dasyacanthus Engelmann. Cactobrosis. strigalis. McDunnough) Mimorista pulchellalis (Dyar). Echinopsis Zuccarini shaferi Britton. &. Cactoblastis bucyrus. Rose. Dyar. Alcidion cereicola Fisher. Dyar. tubiflora (Pfeiffer) Zuccarini. Cactoblastis bucyrus. intricatissima Spegazzini. Dactylopius sp. near confusus Cockerell. Sigelgaita cliilensis Heinrich. Eulychnia acida Philippi Epostoa lanata (H.B.K.) Britton. &. Huarucus. cacti Marshall. Rose Ferocactus. (Engelmann). wislizenii. &. Britton. Hamatocactus setispinus. &. Britton. (Engelmann). LeConte. Tucumania. tapiacola. Dyar. Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). Rose. bonplandii. &. gigas. Yosemitia longipennella (Hulst). Rose. Harrisia* martinii (Labouret) Britton. &. Cactobrosis fernaldialis (Hulst). MoneUema. Rose. (Parmentier). Britton. Listroderes costirostris obb'quus. (Klug). Rose. Tucumania. tapiacola. PMimorista Warren,. pomanensis. (Weber). Dyar. sp.. Britton. &. Mimorista pulchellalis (Dyar). Britton. &. Phycitid larvae. Rose guelichii. (Spegazzini). Rose. Homalocephala texensis Britton & Rose. (Hopffer). Yosemitia longipennella (Hulst). Neomamillaria. (Miihlen-. Yosemitia longipennella (Hulst). heyderi. pfordt) Britton. &. Rose. Nopalea Salm-Dyck lutea. Cactophagus. Rose. guatemalensis Rose cochenillifera. Dyck. (Linnaeus). Salm-. striatoforatus Gyllenhal. Mimorista Warren,. sp.. Mimorista Warren,. sp.. Mimorista Warren,. sp.. Archlagocheirus funestus (Thomson). Dactylopius coccus Costa Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouch6. Some. authorities place these Harrisia species in Eriocereus..

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES Cactus Species. Nopalea. Insect or. 17. Mite. — Continued. Salm-Dyck dejecta Opuntia [Tournefort] Miller. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein Erelevia. quantulella. Eurythmia. (Hulst). (. =. hospitella Zeller). Ozamia immorella (Dyar) Laetilia coccidivora (Comstock). Sosipatra anthophila (Dyar). acanthocarpa Engelmann. &. Bige-. Cahela. ponderosella. (Barnes. &. McDunnough). low. Moneilema armata LeConte. aciculata Griffiths. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein antillana Biitton. &. Rose. Olyca phryganoides Walker Mimorista flavidissimalis (Grote) Gerstaeckeria insulana (Fisher). Dactylopius ceylonicus Green. anacantha Spegazzini. ammophila Small. Melitara prodenialis Walker. aoracantha Lemaire. Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouche. arbuscula Engelmann. Cahela. ponderosella. (Barnes. &. McDunnough) Ghelinidea hunteri Hamlin Olycella subumbrella (Dyar). atrispina Small. Noctuelia elautalis Grote Asphondylia opuntiae Felt. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). aurantiaca Lindley. doddi Heinrich. Tucumania tapiacola Dyar Moneilema ulkei Horn Dactylopius. sp.. near confusus Cock-. erell. Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouche austrina Small. Melitara prodenialis Walker Gerstaeckeria hubbardi (LeConte). Dactylopius confusus Cockerell basilaris. Engelmann. &. Bigelow. Olycella subumbrella (Dyar). Dyotopasta yumaella Kearfott Ghelinidea vittiger Uhler Dactylopius confusus? Cockerell. bernardina Engelmann. Coenopaeus palmeri LeConte. Moneilema. spoliata. Horn. Ghelinidea vittiger Uhler. Narnia snowi Van Duzee 263-417. —68. Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell 3.

18. NATIONAL. U.S.. MUSEUM BULLETIN. Insect or. Cactus Species. Opuntia. 25 6 Mite. —Continued &. boldinghii Britton. Rose. Amalafrida. leithella. (Dyar). Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). bonaerensis Spegazzini. doddi Heinrich. Salambona analamprella (Dyar) Lonchaea alexanderi Brethes Leptoglossus dentatus Berg. Dactylopius ceylonicus Green brasiliensis. (Willdenow) Haworth. brunnescens Britton. cacanapa. &. Rose. (see p. 72). Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). Melitara. Griffiths. bollii Zeller. Ozamia Dyar. fuscomaculella. clarefacta. Noctuelia elautalis Grote. Moneilema ulkei Horn armata LeConte Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Chelinidea canyona Hamlin. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. Canada. Megastes cyclades (Druce). Griffiths. Asphondylia opuntiae Felt cantabrigiensis. Lynch. Olycella nephelepasa. Dyar. Megastes cyclades (Druce) Aerotypia pleurotella Walsingham. Moneilema. variolare. Thomson. Cactophagus spinolae Gyllenhal Asphonylia opuntiae Felt Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. Tetranychus opuntiae Banks canina Spegazzini. Tucumania. canterae Arechavaleta. Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). caribaea Britton. catacantha Link. & Rose & Otto. cordobensis Spegazzini. Mimorista. tapiacola. Dyar. flavidissimalis (Grote). (see p. 140). Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). Lonchaea alexanderi Brethes chlorotica. Englemann. covillei Britton. davisii. &. & Bigelow. Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Narnia snowi Van Duzee. &. Disonycha varicornis Horn. Engelmann. Bigelow. decumbens Salm-Dyck delaetiana. Weber. (see p. 76). Rose. Cactophagus LeConte. spinolae. var.. Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). validus.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES Cactus Species. Opuntia. Insect or. 19. Mite. — Continued. dillenii. (Ker-Gawler) Haworth. Melitara prodenialis Walker. Olyca phryganoides Walker. Ozamia. lucidalis. Mimorista. (Walker). flavidissimalis (Grote). Gerstaeckeria hubbardi (LeConte). cubaecola (Fisher) insulana (Fisher). Cecidomyia opuntiae (Felt) Chelinidea vittiger Uhler Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstcin confusus Cockerell. Megastes cyclades (Druce). discata Griffiths. Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Chelinidea vittiger Uhler discolor Britten. &. Rose. Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). Tucumania. tapiacola. Dyar. Mimorista pulchellalis (Dyar) Dactylopius. sp.. near confusus Cock-. erell. ceylonicus Green. durangensis Britton. &. Rose. echinocarpa Engelmann. &. Bigelow. Tetranychus opuntiae Banks. Cahela. (Barnes. ponderosella. McDunnough) Moneilema. Horn. spoliata. Chelinidea vittiger Uhler. Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell elata. Link. &. Otto. elatior Miller. Lonchaea alexanderi Brethes Amalafrida. leithella. (Dyar). Cecidomyia opuntiae. (Felt). Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstcin engelmainnii. Salm-Dyck. Melitara doddalis Dyar Olycella subumbrella (Dyar). Noctuelia elautalis Grote. Moneilema armata LeConte gigas LeConte laevigata Bland Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Chelinidea canyona Hamlin vittiger Uhler Narnia pallidicornis St SI. snowi. Van Duzee. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstcin. &.

20. U.S.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 25 6 Insect or. Cactus Species. Opuntia. Mite. — Continued Nanaia substituta Heinrich. exaltata Berger. Cactoblastis mundelli Heinrich. Huarucus ficus-indica (Linnaeus) Miller. cacti. Marshall. Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). doddi Heinrich Sigelgaita huanucensis Heinrich. Thecla melanis Drury. Huarucus cacti Marshall Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) spinolae var. rubroniger Fisher fahraei (Gyllenhal). Cylindrocopturus. biradiatus. Cham-. pion. Lonchaea alexanderi Brethes Narnia pallidicornis Stal Dactylopius coccus Costa. opuntiae Lichtenstein Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouche fragilis (Nuttall). fulgida. Haworth. Engelmann. Melitara dentata (Grote). Alberada parabates (Dyar) Noctuelia elautalis Grote. Coenopaeus palmeri (LeConte) gigas LeConte pollens Casey Onychobaris mystica Casey Disonycha varicornis Horn. Moneilema. Chelinidea hunteri Hamlin. Narnia pallidicornis Stal Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell fuliginosa Griffiths. Megastes cyclades (Druce). Cactophagus LeConte. spinolae. var.. validus. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein fuscoatra. Engelmann. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). Mayetiola KiefTer,. sp.. galapageia Henslow. Beebea guglielmi Schaus. grahamii Engelmann. Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell. grandiflora. Engelmann. glomerata Haworth. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). Leptoglossus dentatus Berg Diplacaspis enchinocacti Bouche. hyptiacantha. Weber. Megastes cyclades (Druce) Archlagocheirus funestus (Thomson).

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES Cactus Species. — Continued hyptiacantha — Con tinued. Iiuect or. 21. Mite. Opuntia. Moneilema. variolare. Thomson. Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) spinolae var. rubroniger Fisher fahraei (Gyllenhal). imbricata (Havvorth) DeCandolle. Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. Alberada parabates (Dyar) Cahela ponderosella (Barnes. &. McDunnough) Noctuelia elautalis Grote. Coenopaeus palmeri (LeConte). Moneilema. variolare. Thomson. rugosipennis Fisher. armata LeConte laevigata Bland. obtusa LeConte. Disonycha varicornis Horn Asphondylia opundae Felt Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister) vittiger Uhler Narnia pallidicornis Stal snowi Van Duzee. Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouche. Tetranychus opuntiae Banks. inamoena Schumann. Leptoglossus cinctus (Herrich-Schaef-. inermis DeCandolle. Melitara prodenialis Walker. fer). bollii (Zeller). dentata (Grote) Olycella junctolineella (Hulst) Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). doddi Heinrich. Tucumania. tapiacola. Dyar. Metapleura potosi Busck Archlagocheirus funestus (Thomson). Moneilema. ulkei. Horn. annulata Say Gerstaeckeria nobilis LeConte. Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). canyona Hamlin Uhler. vittiger.

22. U.S.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 25 6 Insect or. Cactus Species. Opuntia. — Continued —Continued. Mite. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. inermis. Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouch6. Tetranychus opuntiae Banks. Von. Eriophyes jamaicensis Britton. &. Rose. kiskaloro Spegazzini kleiniae. DeCandoUe. Mimorista. Siebold, sp.. flavidissimalis (Grote). Tucumania tapiacola Dyar Moneilema armata LeConte Disonycha varicornis Horn Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell. lasiacantha Pfeiffer. Megastes cyclades (Druce) Metapleura potosi Busck Aerotypia pleurotella Walsingham Archlagocheirus functus (Thomson) Moneilema albopicta White. Gactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) lata Small. Melitara prodenialis Walker. leptocaulis. Albcrada holochlora (Dyar). Chelinidea vittiger Uhler. DeCandolle. Rumatha. glaucatella (Hulst). polingella (Dyar). Mimorista. flavidissimalis (Grote). Moneilema. laevigata Bland Onychobaris mystica Casey. Gerstacckcria clathrata (LeContc) Disonycha varicornis Horn Asphondylia opuntiae Felt. Rileya opuntiae. Gahan. Chelinidea vittiger Uhler. Narnia pallidicornis Stil Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell. Tetranychus opuntiae Banks leucotricha DeCandolle. Megastes cyclades (Druce) Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. lindheimeri. Engelmann. Melitara prodenialis Walker bollii (Zeller). Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). Ozamia fuscomaculella Dyar. clarefacta. Megastes cyclades (Druce) Noctuelia elautalis Grote. Mimorista. flavidissimalis (Grote). Coenopaeus palmeri (LeConte). Parmenosoma griseum. Schaeff"er.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES Cactus Species. — Continued lindheimeri — Continued. Insect or. 23. Mite. Opuntia. Moneilema ulkei Horn armata LeConte laevigata Bland. LeConte. crassa. mundelli Fisher Gerstaeckeria doddi Fisher. porosa (LeConte) nobilis. LeConte. Disonycha varicornis Horn Asphondylia opuntiae Felt. Cecidomyia opundae Mayetiola Kieffer,. (Felt). sp.. Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). canyona Hamlin vittiger Uhler Narnia pallidicornis snowi. StSl. Van Duzee. Hesperolabops picta Hunter, Pratt, Mitchell. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouch6. Tetranychus opuntiae Banks littoralis. (Engelmann) Cockerell. Ozamia. fuscomaculella (Wright). Asphondylia opuntiae. F'elt. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. macbridei Britton. &. Rose. macdougaliana Rose. (see p. 104). Huarucus. cacti. Marshall. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. mackensenii Rose. Melitara prodenialis Walker. macrocentra Engelmann. Olycella subumbrella (Dyar). Noctuelia elautalis Grote. Narnia snowi. Van Duzee. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. macrorhiza Engelmann. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). mamillata Schott. Chelinidea hunteri Hamlin. megacantha Salm-Dyck. Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) Narnia femorata Stal Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. microdasys (Lehmann) Pfeiffer. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein missouriensis. DeCandolle. monacantha Haworth. (see p. 2). Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). &.

24. U.S.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 25 6 Insect or. Cactus Species. — Continued monacantha— Continued. Mite. Opuntia. Ozamia. hemilutella. Dyar. Chrysobatys cambogialis (Guenee). Lonchaea alexanderi Brethes Leptoglossus dentatus Berg cinctus (Herrich-Schaeffer). Dactylopius opuntiae Litchenstein ceylonicus Green nigricans. Haworth. occidentalis. palraadora Britton parryi. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. Engelmann. &. &. Rose. Engelmann. Bigelow. Chelinidea vittiger Uhler Narnia pallidicornis Stil (see p. 74, 140, 141). Cahela. ponderosella. (Barnes. McDunnough) phaeacantha Engelmann. Melitara doddalis Dyar Olycella subumbrella (Dyar). Noctuelia elautalis Grote. Moneilema armata LeConte laevigata Bland. Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Chelinidea canyona Hamlin vittiger Uhler Narnia pallidicornis Stal snowi Van Duzee. Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. polyacantha Haworth. Melitara dentata (Grote) Olycella subumbrella (Dyar). Moneilema annulata Say Chelinidea vittiger Uhler. Dactylopius confusus Cockerell prolifera. Engelmann. Alberada parabates (Dyar). Ozamia quimilo. Schumann. thalassophila. Dyar. Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). doddi Heinrich. Tucumania tapiacola Dyar Ozamia hemilutella Dyar Mimorista pulchellalis (Dyar). Lonchaea alexanderi Brethes Leptoglossus dentatus Berg. Dactylopius ceylonicus Green Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouche retrorsa Spegazzini. Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). Olycella nephelepasa (Dyar). &.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES Insect or. Cactus Species. Opuntia. 25. Mite. —Continued. robusta VVendland. Megastes cyclades (Druce) Aerotypia pleurotella Walsingham. Moneilema. variolare. Thomson. Gerstaeckeria unicolor (Fisher). Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) Cecidomyia opuntiae (Felt) Narnia femorata Stal Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein. Tetranychus opuntiae Banks rufida. Engelmann. russellii. Britton. &. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). Rose. Cactoblastis doddi Heinrich. Tucumania Dyar,. sp.. Dactylopius sp. near confusus Cockerell. salmiana Parmentier. Cactoblastis. Tucumania. cactorum tapiacola. (Berg). Dyar. Chrysobatys cambogialis (Guenee) Dactylopius ceylonicus Green. schumannii Weber serpentina. Engelmann. Amalfrida. Cahela. leithella. (Dyar). ponderosella. (Barnes. &. (Barnes. &. McDunnough) Chelinidea vittiger Uhler. Narnia snowi spinosior. (Engelmann) Tourney. Cahela. Van Duzee. ponderosella. McDunnough) Coenopaeus palmeri (LeConte) Cactophagus spinolae var. validus LeConte Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell spinosissima Miller. Olyca phryganoides Walker. Ozamia stanlyi. Engelmann. lucidalis (Walker). Noctuelia elautalis Grote. Dactylopius newsteadi Cockerell stenarthra. Schumann. streptacantha Lemaire. Tucumania Dyar,. sp.. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). nephelespasa (Dyar) Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). doddi Heinrich Megastes cyclades (Druce) Metapleura potosi Busck Aerotypia pleurotella Walsingham Archlagocheirus funestus (Thomson).

26. U.S.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 256. Cactus Species. — (Continued) streptacantha — (Continued). Insect or. I. Mite. Opuntia. Moneilema variolare. ulkei Horn Thomson. Cham-. Cylindrocopturus biradiatus pion. Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Neolasioptera Felt, sp.. Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). Narnia pallidicornis StSl Hesperolabops picta Hunter,. Pratt,. &. Mitchell. Dactylopius coccus Costa. opuntiae Lichtenstein Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouche striata. Haworth. Melitara prodenialis Walker dentata (Grote) Olycella junctolineella (Hulst) Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). doddi Heinrich. Moneilema. ulkei. Horn. Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). canyona Hamlin Dactylopius opuntiae Lichtenstein Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouche. Tetranychus opuntiae Banks sulphurea G.. Don. in. Loudon. Cactoblastis doddi Heinrich. Tucumania tapiacola Dyar Salambona analamprella (Dyar) Mimorista pulchellalis (Dyar) Thecla melanis Drury. Lonchaea alexanderi Brethes Leptoglossus dentatus Bei-g. Dactylopius. sp.. near confusus Cock-. erell. Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouche taylori Britton. tenuispina. &. Rose. Engelmann. tomentosa Salm-Dyck. (see p.. 140). Noctuelia elautalis Grote Olycella nephelepasa (Dyar) Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). doddi Heinrich.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES Cactue Species. —. 27. Insect or Alite. Opuntia Continued tomentosa Continued. —. Megastes cyclades (Druce) Metapleura potosi Busck Aerotypia pleurotella Walsingham Archlagocheirus funestus. Moneilema. ulkei. Thomson. Horn. Cylindrocopturus biradiatus pion. Cham-. Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) Mayetiola Kieffer,. Torymus. sp.. bifasciipennis. (Gahan). Chelinidea tabulata (Burmeister). Dactylopius coccus Costa. opuntiae Lichtenstein Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouch6. Tetranychus opuntiae Banks tortispina. Engelmann. Melitara prodenialis Walker dentata (Grote) doddalis. Dyar. Olycella junctolineella (Hulst). subumbrella (Dyar). Moneilema annulata Say nigriventris Fisher. Gerstaeckeria basalis (LeConte). Asphondylia opuntiae Felt Chelinidea. vittiger. Uhler. Dactylopius opundae Lichtenstein confusus Cockerel]. Melitara prodenialis Walker. tracyi Britton. Dactylopius confusus Cockerell. Mimorista. tuna (Linnaeus) Miller tunicata. (Lehmann) Link. &. Otto. flavidissimalis (Grote). Nanaia substituta Heinrich Cactophagus spinolae var. rubroniger Fisher Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg). utkilio Spegazzini. doddi Heinrich. Tucumania tapiacola Dyar Salambona analamprella (Dyar) Leptoglossus dentatus Berg. Dactylopius. sp.. near confusus Cock-. erell. ceylonicus vaseyi (Coulter) Britton. &. Rose. Green. Asphondylia opuntiae Felt. Narnia snowi. Van Duzee.

28. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 256. U.S.. Insect or. Cactus Species. Opuntia. Mite. — Continued. versicolor. Coenopaeus palmeri (LeConte) Disonycha varicornis Horn. Engelmann. Chelinidea hunteri Hamlin Dactylopius sp. near confusus Cock-. weberi Spegazzini. erell. wetmorei Britton. &. Rose. Dactylopius sp. near confusus Cockerell. whipplei Engelmann. &. Alberada parabates (Dyar) Cahela ponderosella (Barnes. Bigelow. &. McDunnough) Dactylopius newsteadi Cockereil wilcoxii Britton. Peniocereus Britton. &. Rose. greggii. &. Cactophagus LeConte. (Engelmann). spinolae. var.. validus. ?Cactobrosis fernaldialis Hulst. Rose. Pereskia sacharosa Grisebach. Chrysobatys cambogialis (Guenee). Rhipsalis Gaertner. Diplacaspis echinocacti Bouche. Stetsonia Britton. &. Rose. Alcidion cereicola Fisher Leptoglossus dentatus Berg. Trichocereus (Berger) Riccobono. Sigelgaita transilis Heinrich. Tricorynus Waterhouse,. sp.. Leptoglossus dentatus Berg terscheckii (Parmentier) Britton. &. Cactoblastis bucyrus. Dyai. Rose chiloensis (Colla) Britton. cuzcoensis Britton. &. &. Rose. Rose. Sigelgaita chilensis Heinrich. Nanaia. substituta Heinrich.

CACTUS FEEDERS AMD SCAVENGERS LEPIDOPTERA The. larvae. of the. various Lepidoptera. are internal feeders.. The. great majority of the species are included in the family Phycitidae; the remainder comprise one species of Pyralidae, five species of Pyr-. austidae,. two. species of Gelechiidae, one or possibly. two species of. Tineidae, and one of Gracilariidae. Also included are one species of Lycaenidae,. which may not be. restriced to cactus hosts,. determined representatives of several other families. and un-. (see pp. 86-87).. Phycitidae dominant group of cactus insects, comprising at least 47 cactus-feeding phycitids were revised by Carl Heinrich in 1939 and the American species were later treated by him (1956) in his monograph on the New World Phycitinae. In his valuable 1939 contribution, several new genera were erected for species previously placed in older genera, and in it he recognized 18 genera, 46 species, and 2 varieties. Of his 48 species and varieties, 1 1 are known from adults only; hence their larval feeding habits have not been established. They. This. is. species.. the. The. known to be cactus insects, can be assumed that they are true cactus forms. There are 35 species whose larval food habits have been ascertained; to these must be added several species known from larvae only, or from one are so closely related to species definitely. however, that. it. or two undescribed adults.. In. names and synonymy. this publication, the. of Heinrich' s (1956). paper have been adopted, although two forms of Melitara, considered by Heinrich to be synonyms, have been maintained as separate entities. In all, 40 cactus phycitids are here recognized and discussed; an additional 11 species known only from adults are noted but not recognized. Other phycitids found in association with cactus are also mentioned. As has been mentioned. many more. earlier,. species will. is paid group when in Mexico, Opuntia, especially to the insect enemies of cacti other than Central America, and northern South America. Several solitary forms. probably be discovered in. this. greater attention. have been found in various species of Cereanae. in Brazil. and Argentina. 29.

30. U.S.. The. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 256. larvae are either solitary or gregarious in habit.. Among. gregarious forms the most interesting are the species of Melitara Cactoblastts, since the. sticks. may. from 35. females deposit the eggs in the form of chains,. which the term "eggstick". or sticks, to. contain as. The. to 80.. the. and. many. is. generally applied; the egg-. as 150 eggs, although the usual. number. species of Melitara occur throughout the. States prickly pear region, except in California;. is. United. thus distribution. extends into northern Mexico but apparently does not reach the great cactus region of the Central Plateau nor the eastern. and western. coastal strips; the larvae are blue, blue-grey, or blackish-blue in color.. The genus. with almost identical larval, pupal, and eggfound in southern Peru, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina; the larvae are bright orange or orange-red with transverse rows of black spots. In the great intervening region between northern Mexico, southern Peru, and southern Brazil, no Cactoblastis,. laying habits,. is. gregarious phycitid. known. The. of the. Melitara-Cactoblastis. species of Olycella, inhabiting the. egg-laying habit. greater part of Mexico, deposit eggsticks, but these are shorter. contain. many. fewer eggs, usually 8 to. larvae are gregarious in their Insofar as. is. known. all. young. 12,. is. United States and the. and. very rarely up to 30; the. stages,. but soon become. solitary.. other cactus phycitids deposit their eggs singly. or two or three together.. LAETILIA Ragonot LaetlUa coccidivora (Comstock). This insect. is. a well-known enemy of various Coccidae in the United. and. is. a. States. common. predator of Dactylopius species. Apparently,. however, the larvae occasionally vary their. been reared from larvae feeding. diet,. since adults. in Opuntia flowers at. have. Uvalde, Texas.. MELITARA Walker This genus appears to be restricted to the United States and northern Mexico. The larvae arc gregarious tunnellers in various Platyopuntias. In color they vary from light grey-blue to black-blue, assuming a shade of intense translucent blue immediately prior to pupation;. M. prodenialis are usually darker than those of the other forms. The cocoons are of the typical Cactoblastis type, to be described on page 49; those of M. prodenialis tend to be less stoutly constructed than are those of the other species. They are found among debris at the. larvae of. base of or near the attacked plants, in dried-out prickly pear segments, or, in. one form, within the feeding cavities. adults have a wing expanse of 30 to 50. made by. mm. As. with. the larvae.. The. Cactoblastis^ the.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES. 31. eggs are laid in chains or "sticks," which are attached to the spines. or spicules of the Opuntia plant.. Heinrich (1956) recognizes two species: M.prodenialis and. However, in. M.. dentata.. or forms are kept separate.. this publication four species. Efforts to establish these four insects in Australia. were unsuccessful.. Melitara prodenialis Walker. During the Board's investigations, this species was found along the whole length of the coasdine of Florida except in the Florida Keys; at Biloxi, Mississippi; from New Orleans along the gulf coast to Corpus Texas; and at a few inland. Christi,. Texas.. Its distribution is. Adandc. coast as far as. known. to. New York. localities in the eastern half of. extend from Florida north along the State.. Considerable attention was devoted to. and on the. gulf coast of Texas.. The. certain differences in character that. M.. prodenialis. both in Florida. Florida and Texas forms present. may. constitute racial distinction.. There are three generadons a year in Florida, two in Texas. The Texas moths are somewhat lighter in color; the females are more prolific, and the eggsticks contain, on an average, a greater number of eggs. Furthermore, in breeding operations in Australia, the Florida form was reared much more readily on Opuntia stricta than on 0. inermis, whereas the Texas insect made better progress on the latter plant. The Florida form attacks a wide variety of prickly pears, including dillenii, and 0. ammophila, and the narrow-jointed 0. tracyi. It is prevalent in many areas, as between Miami and Fernandina on the east coast, and around Hudson on the west coast. The larvae. the shrub, or bush, pears Opuntia. stricta,. and 0.. the low-growing 0. austrina. 0.. lata,. frequently cause considerable destruction especially to the very succulent prickly pears 0. austri7ia. produce moths. in. and 0.. March and. tion emerge in June,. and. The winter generation larvae first summer generasecond summer generation from. tracyi.. April; adults of the. those of the. Each female usually deposits between 30 and 50 eggs; on one occasion an average of 60 eggs per female was obtained from a number of individuals. The eggsticks contain an average numlate August to early October.. ber of 30 eggs; however, 40 eggs in a stick. does the. number reach. is. not. uncommon;. rarely. 50.. strip from Corpus Christi and is very abundant in the vicinity of Galveston. It has not been observed around Brownsville. To the south of Galveston the distribution does not appear to extend inland for a greater distance than 25 miles. On the other hand, it has been found in the north-central portion of the State near Dallas and. In Texas, the species occurs generally along the coastal. the Louisiana. at. boundary. to. Alvarado in Johnston County. Furthermore,. it. inhabits the foothills.

32 and. U.S.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 25 6. valley of the Rio Frio, northeast of Uvalde, although. has not. it. been recorded from the open country between and south of Uvalde and San Antonio, where one of its food plants Opuntia lindheimeri is. common. The host plants include the bush prickly pears 0. lindheimeri and 0. inermis and low-growing plants such as 0. mackensenii, 0. tortispina and relations. The winter generation yields adults from late April to early June, while moths of the summer generation appear from late August to October. In breeding work in Australia, so. the egg average per female from. many examples. usually varied be-. tween 40 and 75; but in one instance 424 females deposited an average of 103 eggs each. In Texas, an average of 75 eggs per female was obtained from 3,180 females, and on another occasion a number. an average number. of females laid. of 86 eggs.. The. eggs secured from one individual has been. number. greatest. number. and the. 133,. of. largest. of eggs counted in a stick has been 91.. Parasites.. — In. Texas, three species of parasites,. Phorocera texana, the. Brachymeria. (Pseudobrachjmeria) pedalis. and other cactus prodenialis are. phycitids.. viz.,. the tachinid. and the chalcid attack the pupae of Melitara. ichneumon Temelucha. sinuatus,. In Florida, two other enemies of. the tachinid Lespesia sp.. and the braconid. M.. Apanteles. etiellae.. Melitara dentata (Grote). Heinrich (1956) has included. M.. doddalis. Dyar. as a. synonym. of this. However, as the two were regarded as distinct forms during the Board's investigations, and as there appeared to be certain differences between the more northern dentata and the more southern species.. doddalis,. The. they will be treated separately.. M.. dentata moths of Colorado tend to be larger, with more uniformly grey and less suffused with darker markings than those of doddalis. The full-grown larvae of the former insect are a more intense clear blue and are the most beautiful of the genus; they seem to crawl freely at pupation time and do not. typical. the forewings. spin cocoons in clusters at the base of the plants, as. is. the habit of. and prodenialis. The cocoons of dentata are stouter and more compactly woven than those of the other three forms. M. dentata is distributed at elevations of from 2,500 to 7,000 feet from the Panhandle of Texas, northward through western Kansas, Colorado, western Nebraska, and Wyoming to the border of Montana, thence southward through Idaho and Utah to the plateau of northern Arizona, and to Mexico. It has been recorded also from British Columbia, Canada. Throughout its range it is prevalent and often doddalis.

CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES extremely abundant. pears 0.. tortispina,. The. 33. host plants are the low-growing prickly. 0. polyacantha, O.fragilis,. and. their relations. Efforts. at Uvalde, Texas, to rear the larvae in the bushy 0. lindheimeri. were unsuccessful; however, completed its life cycle on 0. inermis and 0. 0.. atrispina. in. Australia. this. and. insect. stricta.. The. larvae cause serious injury to the low-growing prickly pears. Individual plants are destroyed completely, and whole fields of Opuntia tortispina. and 0.. damaged. As they develop, and split up into not uncommon to find not more than. polyacantha are severely. the colonies of larvae tunnel through the plant. smaller groups, so that. it. is. two or three large larvae in each attacked segment. Since the larvae crawl considerable distances at pupation time, tlie cocoons are not readily located in numbers, even in areas where tlie insect is prevalent. There is one generation annually. Pupation occurs in June and. and moth emergence. and August. In late June and was more advanced on the western than on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountain system; thus, in Kansas, eastern Colorado, and Wyoming the larvae were not full grown, whereas in Idaho and Utah all larvae had pupated. In 1925 moths from northern Arizona emerged during the period July 6 to 18, and those from eastern Colorado from August 21 to 31. The following year, moths from eastern Colorado emerged from July 30 to August 30.. July,. early July. 1926 the. life. in July. cycle. Probably the females are capable of laying as. The. many. as 200 eggs.. following records were obtained from various lots of material: Number of females.

34. U-S.. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 256. Texas to southern Arizona. The eastern limits of its range extend from Henrietta, on the Oklahoma boundary, due south to Austin, thence in a westerly direction along the edge of the plateau to Rocksprings, and south to the Rio Grande in the foothills of western. appear. to. country west of Del Rio. It occurs right across western Texas from the Panhandle in the north to El Paso, through the greater part of New Mexico except the northern portion, and in southern Arizona. In southern Arizona, the western limit would seem to be the Quijotoa Mountains between Tucson and Ajo; from New Mexico the insect. extends southward through the Mexican State of Chihuahua to its southern boundary. The food plants comprise the bushy prickly pears Opuntia engelmannii, 0. phaeacantha,. and various other. plants of the 0. tortispina group. parts of. its. related species,. The. species. is. and low-growing. prevalent in various. extensive distribution. In west-central Texas. it. is. often. abundant on the Edwards Plateau especially around Marble Falls and in the Albany-Sweetwater region. Fartlier west. Fort Stockton is. a favored area. In. New. Mexico,. it is. not. uncommon. at Mesilla. Park and Silver City, while at Douglas, in the southeastern corner of Arizona, colonies of larvae were numerous in an extensive area of approximately 60 square miles of a low-growing Opuntia of the tortispina type. In the Tucson sector of southern Arizona, the species is rarely found in prickly pears growing in the open mesa country, but occurs rather freely in valleys of. many. places in the foothills. and lower. the various mountain ranges.. The larvae cause considerable injury. As they frequently tunnel downward into the basal segments, well-grown bushy plants are often killed completely.. In west-central Texas. important controlling effect. this insect. appears to exercise. on Platyopuntias.. an There is one generation annually. Pupation takes place in August and September, and moth emergence from late August to the end of. The females usually deposit in excess of 100 eggs. In 1928 various localities yielded an average of from 116 to 128 from material Other records of averages are: female. eggs per October.. Number. of females. The. last. Average number of eggs deposited by each. 132. 110. 40. 129. 261. 64. 10. 137. record was obtained from moths that emerged at Uvalde,. Texas, from pupae collected in Chihuahua, Mexico. Eggsticks deposited under cage conditions gave an average of 45 eggs per stick; the largest. contained 96 eggs..