ABSTRACT The false carmine cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae has been originally used as biological control agent of the prickly pear cactus Opuntia ficus-indica Miller, considered as an exotic invasive species in many countries including Spain. However, the extremely high level of infestation has resulted in great inconvenience to the population of local residents and a serious threat to wipe out a plant that is already part of the Andalusian landscape. In the present research, different control means were evaluated towards this cochineal at field condition in a site in the province of Cadiz (Spain). The populations of the insect in the study site were confirmed to belong to D. opuntiae. We detected this insect throughout the study area with a very high population density in terms of number of colonies per cladode and the extent of the infestation. We also evaluated the efficacy of four different methods (Chlorpyrifos-methyl, Potassium soap, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri larvae, the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana) for the control of D. opuntiae. Our results demonstrated that the Potassium soap and Chlorpyrifos-methyl were the best treatments in reducing D. opuntiae populations, with relative population density values being negative only in these two treatments, and efficacies of 91.5 and 76.7% respectively. The results of this investigation showed that the current situation of false carmine cochineal is worrisome, but nevertheless, the use of Potassium soap for its control is recommended because of its high efficacy and low environmental impact.

中文翻译：

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在加的斯省（西班牙）的田间条件下对仙人掌（Cockerell）（半翅目：Dactylopiidae）进行生物和综合管理

摘要 假胭脂红 Dactylopius opuntiae 最初被用作仙人掌仙人掌 Opuntia ficus-indica Miller 的生物防治剂，在包括西班牙在内的许多国家被视为外来入侵物种。然而，极高的侵染程度给当地居民带来了极大的不便，并严重威胁到已经成为安达卢西亚景观一部分的植物。在目前的研究中，在加的斯省（西班牙）的现场条件下，对这种胭脂虫的不同控制手段进行了评估。研究地点的昆虫种群被证实属于仙人掌。我们在整个研究区域检测到这种昆虫，就每个分支的菌落数量和侵扰程度而言，它的种群密度非常高。我们还评估了四种不同方法（甲基毒死蜱、钾皂、Cryptolaemus montrouzieri 幼虫、昆虫病原真菌白僵菌）控制仙人掌的功效。我们的研究结果表明，钾皂和甲基毒死蜱是减少仙人掌种群的最佳处理，仅这两种处理的相对种群密度值为负，分别为 91.5% 和 76.7%。本次调查的结果显示，假胭脂虫红的现状令人担忧，但仍推荐使用钾皂进行防治，因为其功效高，对环境影响小。昆虫病原真菌白僵菌）用于控制仙人掌。我们的研究结果表明，钾皂和甲基毒死蜱是减少仙人掌种群的最佳处理，仅这两种处理的相对种群密度值为负，分别为 91.5% 和 76.7%。本次调查的结果显示，假胭脂虫红的现状令人担忧，但由于钾皂药效高、对环境影响小，因此推荐使用钾皂进行防治。昆虫病原真菌白僵菌）用于控制仙人掌。我们的研究结果表明，钾皂和甲基毒死蜱是减少仙人掌种群的最佳处理，仅这两种处理的相对种群密度值为负，分别为 91.5% 和 76.7%。本次调查的结果显示，假胭脂虫红的现状令人担忧，但仍推荐使用钾皂进行防治，因为其功效高，对环境影响小。相对种群密度值仅在这两种处理中为负值，分别为 91.5% 和 76.7%。本次调查的结果显示，假胭脂虫红的现状令人担忧，但由于钾皂药效高、对环境影响小，因此推荐使用钾皂进行防治。相对种群密度值仅在这两种处理中为负值，分别为 91.5% 和 76.7%。本次调查的结果显示，假胭脂虫红的现状令人担忧，但仍推荐使用钾皂进行防治，因为其功效高，对环境影响小。