The reinvigorated mass-rear and release program of a past biological control agent, Lagocheirus funestus (brown prickly pear stem borer) on Opuntioid cacti in Australia.

Abstract

Australia has over a century of experience in using biological control to manage invasive Opuntioid cacti. While Cactoblastis cactorum is celebrated for its success in the 1920s, other agents, like Lagocheirus funestus (brown prickly pear stem borer), also played a significant role. Introduced in 1935, L. funestus effectively targeted Opuntia tomentosa and O. streptacantha, but its long-term impact remained unclear. In 2023, interest in L. funestus was renewed, leading to a mass-rearing and release program initiated by Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) in 2024. This paper examines the historical and modern efforts to utilise L. funestus in controlling prickly pear infestations, highlighting advancements in rearing and release techniques and the agent’s potential to combat invasive cacti in Australia.