Natural enemies of the invasive plant Harrisia martinii (Cactaceae): Perspectives for biological control from native and introduced areas

FRANCESCHINI, M. C.; DUFEK, M.; CABAÑA FADER, A.; MEDINA, W. A.; GERARDO N. VALLE; DAMBORSKY, M.

2022-10-03/2023-06-20

1-11

Biológica

Sanidad vegetal-Prevencion

Harrisia martinii (Labour.) Britton & Rose (Cactaceae) is a much branched, erect to climbing cactus with a native range from eastern Paraguay to northeast of Argentina (Mc Fadyen & Fidalgo, 1975). In Australia this species is invasive and can form dense infestations, choking outother pasture species and causing injuries to livestock. Harrisia cactus was introduced to the State of Queensland in Australia in the 1890?s. Since then, it has been steadily increasing in density and distribution in Queensland and New South Wales in spite releases of biological control agents from Argentina the 1970?s to the 1990?s. Currently, integrated management strategies for this cactus include hemical and mechanical control, as well as biological control. However, an adequate level of control has not been achieved (Ezeh et al., 2023).