Portillo Martínez, L., & Vigueras Guzmán, A.L. 2006 A review on the cochineal species in Mexico, hosts and natural enemies.. Acta Horticulturae 728, Proceedings of V International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal, Chapingo, Mexico 249-256

Notes: This paper reviews the status of the diversity of the Dactylopiidae family, its hosts and predators in Mexico. Six dactylopiids or carmine cochineals are cited to occur in Mexico: Dactylopius bassi, D. ceylonicus, D. coccus, D. confusus, D. opuntiae and D. tomentosus. However, the diversity of Mexican dactylopiids may be higher as more regions and hosts are surveyed, since more than 114 Opuntia species occur in Mexico. Approximately 30 Opuntia species are known as hosts and four insect orders are reported as entomophagous of the Dactylopiidae family in Mexico. The difficulty involved in the identification of dactylopiids using only morphologic keys, may be overcome with molecular studies.