Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The cactus mealybugHypogeococcus festerianus [Hem.: Pseudococcidae] an agent for the biological control ofEriocereus martinii [Cactaceae] in Australia

  • Published:
Entomophaga Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The mealybugHypogeococcus festerianus (Lizer y Trelles) infests cacti in Northern Argentina and Paraguay, causing deformed and distorted growth of attacked plants. Laboratory studies and field observations demonstrate that it will only infest plants in the sub-familyCereanae of theCactaceae. Its liberation in Queensland, Australia, for the control ofEriocereus spp., was approved in October 1974, and it has since established widely.

Résumé

La cochenille farineuseHypogeococcus festerianus (Lizer y Trelles) infeste les cactus dans le nord de l’Argentine et le Paraguay, causant chez ces plantes, des déformations et une croissance anormale. Les observations faites dans la nature et en laboratoire montrent qu’elle s’attaque exclusivement aux plantes de la sous-famille desCereanae de la famille desCactaceae. Son introduction en Australie a été approuvée en octobre 1974, et elle s’est largement établie depuis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Lizer y Trelles, C. A. — 1942.Pedronia festeriana n. sp. [Hom.: Cocc. Pseudoccocc]. —Rev. Fac. Agr. y Vet. B. A., 1, 24–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manichote, P. &Middlekauf, W. W. — 1967. Life history studies of the cactus mealybug,Spilococcus cactearum McKenzie [Hom.: Cocc. Pseudo.]. —Hilgardia, 37, 638–660.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, J. — 1967. The Harrisia cactus. —Govt. Printers, Brisbane, 14 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mann, J. — 1969. Cactus-feeding insects and mites. —U.S.N.M. Bull., 256, 158 pp.

  • McFadyen, R. E. — 1979.Eriocereophaga humeridens [Col.: Curculionidae], a potential agent for the biological control ofEriocereus martinii [Cactaceae] in Australia. —Entomophaga, 24, 49–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFadyen, R. E. &Fidalgo, A. P. — 1976. Investigations onAlcidion cereicola [Col.: Cerambycidae], a potential agent for the biological control ofEriocereus martinii [Cactaceae] in Australia. —Entomophaga, 21, 103–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McFadyen, R. E. & Tomley, A. J. — 1978. Preliminary indications of success in the biological control of Harrisia cactus (Eriocereus martinii Lab.) in Queensland. —Proc. 1st Conf. Council Austr. Weed Sci. Soc., 108–112.

  • Williams, D. J. — 1973. Two cactus-feeding mealybugs from Argentina [Homoptera, Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae]. —Bull. Entomol. Res., 62, 565–570.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, F. — 1960. A review of the biological control of insects and weeds in Australia and Australian New Guinea. —Commonw. Inst. Biol. Control Tech. Comm., 1, 102 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zwölfer, H. &Harris, P. — 1971. Host specificity determination of insects for biological control of weeds. —Annu. Rev. Entomol., 16, 159–178.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. R. E. McFadyen

    Present address: Department of Lands, Sir Alan Fletcher Research Station, P.O. Box 36, 4075, Sherwood, Queensland, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, South American Sub-Station, Tucuman, Argentina

    R. E. McFadyen

Authors
  1. R. E. McFadyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McFadyen, R.E. The cactus mealybugHypogeococcus festerianus [Hem.: Pseudococcidae] an agent for the biological control ofEriocereus martinii [Cactaceae] in Australia. Entomophaga 24, 281–287 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374242

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374242

Keywords

Search

Navigation