Damage and ethology of Cryptarcha sp. in the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica(L.) Mill. Ayacucho, Perú

Abstract

In prickly pear (Opuntiaficus-indica(L.) Mill.) of the semiarid forest of Ayacucho, Chryptarchasp. infests and damages the tender organs of the cactus. The objective of the study was to determine the damage of the insect during a year and its behavior. Fortnightly during the year, in 60 prickly pear plants, the number of young leaves, flower buds, flowers and green fruits, healthy and damaged by the insect and its behavior were monitored. Using the PAST 4.12 software, the annual cycle of damage occurrence and the annual cycle of the vegetative period of the prickly pear were diagrammed, to relate them to the climatic seasons; likewise, the principal component analysis (PCA) to establish the most affected tender organs and the period of infestation to the cactus. It turned out that during theyear the flower bud and the green fruit were significantly damaged. It infests the tuna mainly from November to March of the following year, which corresponds to the hot and humid season; in which it managed to damage 35.9% of flowers, 14.7% of tender leaves, 9.7% of green fruits and 0.7% of flowers. It has phytophagous and saprophagous behavior, being attracted by the juice of ripe fruit damaged by other agents, by the ferments of the stems of the prickly pear and other cacti in the process of putrefaction, and by the fresh feces of the pig.