Opuntia Bug?
Cactus Bug? Chelinidea vittiger?
By Michael J. Green
If
a rose by any other name is still a rose, trouble by any of these names is
still trouble. Once tested as a biological control for Opuntia, Chelinidea
vittiger aequoris was no where near as effective as the Cactoblastus
cactorum moth now threatening Mexico’s lucrative carmine azo dye industry being
only 8 miles off the coast. Chelinidea vittiger aequoris is actually
HERE and probably even in YOUR backyard. Chelinidea vittiger, in its
various forms, ranges from California to Virginia, northward to Montana, and
southward to northern Mexico. Hamlin (1932) showed Central Florida as the
southeastern U.S. limit of C. v. aequoris.[1]
The adult has a length of 10 to 13.5 mm; width across pronotum 4 to 5 mm. The
most striking features of C. vittiger aequoris are a conspicuous dorsal,
yellow stripe (not fin) on the head, nearly solid yellow pronotum, and yellow
veins of the forewing. While the feeding of the bugs leaves unsightly marks on
the cactus pads, the plants never seem to suffer too badly, even with heavy
infestations. Eggs are usually laid in a row on the longest cactus spines2. Systemic pesticide sprays work quite
well to reduce / eliminate the populations.
Chelinidea vittiger has been seen on Opuntias, Cleistocactus, Echinocactus,
Ferocactus, Echinocereus and Stenocactus in Riverside.
Chelinidea vittiger adult on Cleistocactus Chelinidea vittiger nymphs on Opuntia
Chelinidea vittiger on Ferocactus Chelinidea
vittiger damage on Opuntias