Dactylopius opuntiae

Prickly Pear Cochineal at suppressed

Dactylopius opuntiae at suppressed - suppressed
Dactylopius opuntiae at suppressed - suppressed
Dactylopius opuntiae at suppressed - suppressed
Dactylopius opuntiae at suppressed - suppressed
Dactylopius opuntiae at suppressed - suppressed
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Identification history

Dactylopius opuntiae 15 Mar 2024 MichaelMulvaney
Dactylopius coccus 12 Mar 2024 WendyEM
Dactylopius opuntiae 12 Mar 2024 WendyEM
Unidentified 12 Mar 2024 HarleyB

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User's notes

Biocontrol release for the cochineal insect dactylopius opuntiae. The app won't allow me to add that species.

4 comments

WendyEM wrote:
   12 Mar 2024
apparently we also have Dactylopius coccus
   15 Mar 2024
Thanks Harley looks like it is getting hold
pmillsApio87 wrote:
   15 May 2024
@MichaelMulvaney @WendyEM 5 different species of *Dactylopius* recorded from Australia. I have been trying to find publication data on the host-specificity of the different species but haven't had any luck to date.
   15 May 2024
Harley is an ACT Government invasive plants officer I think he acquired and released the dactylopius on an opuntia species

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Sighting information

Additional information

  • opuntia stricta Associated plant
  • dactylopius opuntiae Associated Insect
  • Less than 5mm Animal size
  • Mixed Gender
  • Alive / healthy Animal health

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
802,222 sightings of 21,667 species from 13,550 contributors
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