Cruz-Rodríguez, J.A., González-Machorro, E., Villegas González, A.A., Rodríguez Ramírez, M.L., & Mejía Lara, F. 2016 Autonomous Biological Control of Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactyliiopidae) in a Prickly Pear Plantation With Ecological Management. Environmental Entomology 45(3): 642-648
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Notes: Conservation of biological diversity in agricultural ecosystems contributes to pest control. This process was studied in a prickly pear plantation (Opuntia megacantha and Opuntia ficus-indica) located in central Mexico. Six species that prey on cochineal were identified. Laetilia coccidivora and Hyperaspis trifurcata were the most active and their abundance was significantly correlated with the abundance of cochineal. We found that the probability of extinction of these insects in a cladode increases with its density, since the density and predator activity also increased. It is likely that, under these conditions, the cochineal have established an autonomous control.
