Species Dactylopius austrinus De Lotto, 1974

Museums

Regional Maps

• Dactylopius austrinus De Lotto, G. 1974. On the status and identity of the cochineal insects (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Dactylopiidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 37: 167-193 [174].

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Ecological Descriptors

Sap-feeder.

ID Keys

(De Lotto, G., 1974) [173-174] (female; world)

GENERAL

Portillo Martinez, L. 1995. [Hosts of the carmine cochineal (Dactylopius spp.) and considerations for its improvement.] Los hospederos de las cochinillas del carmin (Dactylopius spp.) y algunos consideraciones sobre su aprovechamiento. pp. 308 pp. in Anon. (ed). Conocimiento y aprovechamiento del nopal : 6to. congreso nacional y 4to. congreso internacional, 6-10 de noviembre de 1995 : memorias / compilaciön. Las Agujas, Nextipac, Zapopan, Mexico : Universidad de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biolögicas y Agropecuarias, et al. distinguished between the fine cochineal species Dactylopius coccus and a group of wild cochineal species comprising D. austrinus, D. ceylonicus, D. confertus, D. confusus, D. opuntiae, D. salmianus, D. tomentosus and D. zimmermani.

BIOLOGY

Life history of the male and female in South Africa studied and described by Moran, V.C. & Cobby, B.S. 1979. On the life-history and fecundity of the cochineal insect Dactylopius austrinus De Lotto (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae), a biological control agent for the cactus Opuntia aurantica. Bulletin of Entomological Research 69: 629–636. Hosking, J.R. 1984. The effect of temperature on the population growth potential of Dactylopius austrinus De Lotto (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae), on Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 23: 133–139 studied the effect of temperature on the population growth potential of this scale, on Opuntia aurantiaca in Australia.

STRUCTURE

Gunn, B.H. 1978. Sexual dimorphism in the first instar of the cochineal insect Dactylopius austrinus De Lotto (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 41: 333–338 described for the first time sexual dimorphism in crawlers of this species, and in the Dactylopiidae.

ECONOMIC AND CONTROL

Imported for the biological control of jointed cactus, Opuntia aurantiaca in South Africa (seecMoran, V.C. & Cobby, B.S. 1979. On the life-history and fecundity of the cochineal insect Dactylopius austrinus De Lotto (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae), a biological control agent for the cactus Opuntia aurantica. Bulletin of Entomological Research 69: 629–636). Introduced into Australia for the biological control of tiger pear, Opuntia aurantiaca (see Hosking, J.R. 1984. The effect of temperature on the population growth potential of Dactylopius austrinus De Lotto (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae), on Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 23: 133–139).

Common Name References

Naumann, I.D., Ingram, R.J. & Floyd, R. 2002. Australian Insect Common Names, based on CSIRO Handbook of Australian Insect Names. 6th edn 1993. http://www.ento.csiro.au/aicn/. (Tiger Pear Cochineal)

History of changes