Ability to Respond Total:17 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:High
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Larvae may be transported in infested plant material, adults disperse through flight.
4
Spread Amount
California has a broad range of Opuntia spp. distributed widely.
4
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
This pest has the ability to completely decimate the native Opuntia and destroy desert ecosystems (ie. Habitat and food source).
5
Agricultural
Will negatively impact fruit and pad production (prickly pear), rangeland grazing (sometimes used as fodder in times of drought), and nursery and landscape plants.
4
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Destruction of the iconic desert landscape.
3
Health
0
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
20
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Eggs "sticks" look like spines, but damage from larval feeding is conspicuous, and a pheromone exists to attract males (could be used to trap).
4
Control
Chemical control is ineffective, also not feasible due to its overlapping habitat with several endangered Lepidopterans, likewise with the release of egg parasites.
