Cactus Scattered Cochineal

All species of the family Dactylopiidae have females with an oval-shaped body that is purple-red in color and covered in a white, cotton-like wax. This wax protects the body of the cochineal from heat, cold, and predators. Adult females are sessile and form colonies of up to a few thousand individuals of mixed age, creating conspicuous clusters of white wax all over the plant. Adult females of Dactylopius opuntiae produce red glucosidal hydroxyanthrapurin (carminic acid), which occurs naturally within their body. Morphologically, all Dactylopius species have truncate dorsal setae and clusters of quinquelocular pores associated with tubular ducts on the body of females, and no microducts and cellular anal rings bearing setae. Large, truncate, and rounded setae longer than the width at the base and numerous narrow ventral pores on the last three body segments distinguish Dactylopius opuntiae from all its congeners.

Development. Dactylopius opuntiae follows a life cycle similar to that of other species in the genus, consisting of two nymphal instars before adult females and two nymphal instars, prepupa, and pupa before adult males. …

Dactylopius opuntiae is native to Mexico and neighboring countries in Central America but has been introduced to several other areas, including Australia, Algeria, Morocco, Israel, France, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United States (California and Texas).

Like other members of Dactylopiidae, Dactylopius opuntiae is not affected by parasitoid wasps. In Mexico, its most commonly occurring predatory species have been found to be Leucopis bellula, Sympherobius barberi, and Laetilia coccidivora.