Musengi, K., Mbonani, S., & Byrne, M.J. 2021 Host suitability of three Opuntia taxa for the Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) ‘stricta’ lineage. Biocontrol Science and Technology doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2021.1932747

Keywords:

biological control

Notes: We compared the performance of the ‘stricta’ lineage on Opuntia stricta, Opuntia humifusa and two lineages of Opuntia engelmannii. The ‘stricta’ lineage completed its development on O. humifusa such that the cochineal could be considered as a potential biological control agent for O. humifusa. Conversely, D. opuntiae ‘stricta’ was not able to complete development on O. engelmannii.