Successful Area-Wide Programme that Eradicated Outbreaks of the Invasive Cactus Moth in Mexico

The spectacular success of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg), in controlling invasive Opuntia species has been cited often in biological control literature. This insect is highly damaging to plants of the Cactaceae family and has been regarded as one of the most successful classical weed biological control agents. In Australia, the cactus moth effectively controlled approximately 25 million hectares of non-native Opuntia species that had invaded cattle grazing lands. In Mexico, however, the Cactaceae are native, where they have their greatest diversity, and have major ecological and socio-economic importance. In the 1950s, 562the cactus moth was introduced into several Caribbean islands for management of Opuntia spp. on grazing lands. The moth arrived accidentally in Florida by 1989, and concerns were raised that this highly mobile moth could spread into the south-western USA and reach Mexico. Therefore, a cactus moth surveillance programme was established in Mexico in 2002 to detect and prevent the introduction and establishment of this invasive pest. Through this detection trapping network, two localized but large outbreaks of C. cactorum were detected off the coast of the Peninsula of Yucatan, Mexico; on Isla Mujeres, 10 August 2006, and Isla Contoy, 4 May 2007, both in the municipality of Isla Mujeres in the state of Quintana Roo. An eradication programme was immediately implemented by the National Service for Health, Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) of Mexico, in close collaboration with other national and international organizations. An area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) approach was implemented that included regulatory actions, outreach activities, surveillance, intensive sanitation and the release of sterile moths. Eradication was achieved in 2008 and officially declared in 2009. A surveillance network is currently maintained for detecting early pest incursions, allowing for a rapid response to any future incursion of the pest. This successful programme has resulted in the protection of the high value commercial Opuntia cacti industry in Mexico, as well as native Opuntia species in natural arid and semi-arid ecosystems where they are an essential element in maintaining biodiversity and soil conservation.