Biocontrol Moth Released to Fight Cacti Now Threatens Native US Prickly Pears

The Argentine cactus moth, originally from South America, is spreading westward across the southern United States and posing a growing threat to native prickly pear cactus populations. The species was first detected in Florida in 1989 and has since been moving toward ecologically sensitive regions in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Scientists are concerned that its continued spread could disrupt the ecological balance in these areas. Authorities have implemented control strategies, including the sterile insect technique, to monitor and limit its expansion.