Developing biological control to mitigate the harrisia cactus mealybug damage in puerto rico - the broad objective of this project is to develop a biological control program against the harrisia…

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service awarded $352,236 under the Agricultural Research Basic and Applied Research program (CFDA 10.001) to Fundacion Para El Estudio De Especies Invasivas for a Cooperative Agreement running from July 1, 2021 to August 14, 2022. The award aims to develop a biological control program against the Harrisia cactus mealybug, an invasive pest affecting 13 native cactus species in Puerto Rico, including three endemic and two endangered species. Key deliverables include rearing and maintaining South American biological control agents in quarantine facilities, conducting host specificity testing, and preparing a petition to introduce two parasitoid wasp species (Anagyrus cachamae and Anagyrus lapachosus) against the mealybug in Puerto Rico. If approved, this introduction aims to mitigate further damage by the invasive pest and protect biodiversity.

Developing biological control to mitigate the harrisia cactus mealybug damage in puerto rico - the broad objective of this project is to develop a biological control program against the harrisia cactus mealybug, hypogeococcus SP., a pest of columnar cactus in puerto rico. This new mealybug pest has invaded an area of about 1,400 square KM in puerto rico, where there are 13 species of susceptible native cactus; three of these species are endemic and two are endangered. The pest also threatens native cactus in other caribbean islands and north america. The overall project includes the following objectives: 1) rear, maintain and transport colonies of south american biological control agents to puerto rican quarantine and train quarantine staff and students in colony rearing and maintenance; 2) rear biological control agents in puerto rican quarantine facilities to be used in host specificity tests; 3) complete host specificity tests for both parasitoid species in the puerto rican quarantine facility; 4) prepare and submit to aphis-PPQ a petition to introduce the biological control agents anagyrus cachamai and anagyrus lapachosus into the puerto rican environment against hypogeococcus SP." ; 5) inform and educate state plant protection agencies and the public about the risks harrisia cactus mealybug places on their cactus species and biodiversity."