Biological and reproduction performance of Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) fed ‘Dellahia’ and Opuntia ficus-indica Mill. under Moroccan conditions

The false carmine cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae), is the most devastating pest of cactus pear around the world.
Recently this cochineal has become an increasing threat to cactus pear cultivation in many areas of Morocco.
The life cycle of the cochineal was carried out under Morocco field conditions (14 to 44°C) using two cactus pear genotypes as hosts: Opuntia sp. (‘Dellahia’) and Opuntia ficus indica Mill.
The results showed that the duration of the cochineal life cycle was host-dependent.
Developmental times of males and females were longer on ‘Dellahia’ (52.2 and 130.3 days, respectively) than on O. ficus-indica Mill. (42.5 and 128.8 days, respectively). Adult male lifespan was similar to both evaluated cultivars.
The effect of the host on the cochineal reproduction and population growth parameters was also evaluated under laboratory conditions at 25±2°C. Pre-oviposition period, post-oviposition period, and female longevity were longer on ‘Dellahia’ than on O. ficus-indica Mill.
Furthermore, female fecundity was lower on ‘Dellahia’ compared to O. ficus-indica Mill.
No difference was observed for the oviposition period and sex ratio.
However, the net reproductive rate (R₀), the intrinsic rate of population increase (r_m), and the finite rate of increase ( ) were higher for cochineals reared on O. ficus-indica Mill. than on ‘Dellahia’. In contrast, cochineal reared on ‘Dellahia’ produced a longer generation time (T) and time to double population in size (DT) compared to O. ficus-indica.

X International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal: Cactus – the New Green Revolution in Drylands

M.E. Aalaoui, M. Sbaghi

cochineal life cycle, cactus pear cultivars, host plants, Morocco, scale pest biology

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1343.70