common name: a cactus bug scientific name: Chelinidea vittiger
aequoris McAtee (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coreidae) Introduction -
Systematics - Distribution - Description and Identification -
Bionomics - Detection - Selected References Insects that attack
prickly pear cacti, Opuntia spp., in North America have been
under investigation for a century. The primary purpose of this
research has been to determine which insects have the most
promise as biocontrol agents where cacti are severe weed
problems. In Australia, for example, over 30,000,000 acres of
pasture land were rendered useless because of dense stands of
exotic prickly pear cacti. One of the native American cactus
insects that showed early promise as a control agent was the
coreid bug, Chelinidea vittiger Uhler. DeVol and Goeden (1973)
discussed the value of this species in biological weed control
and reported that it was ineffective in controlling prickly
pears in Australia and Santa Cruz Island, California. In most
areas of North America prickly pears ar