Israel assists Cyprus in combating invasive insect destroying prickly pear crops

Israel has dispatched an expert and a biological control team of approximately 200 predatory ladybugs to Cyprus to combat the invasive insect Dactylopius opuntiae. This pest, which produces a white cotton-like substance that weakens and eventually kills prickly pear plants, has caused significant damage since its arrival in Cyprus in 2016.

The operation is led by Professor Zvika Mendel from the Volcani Institute, leveraging expertise gained when the same insect infested Israel in 2013. According to reports, the pest has destroyed between 20% and 30% of commercial prickly pear plantations, which cover approximately 1,500 decares across the island. Specifically, between 300 and 450 decares of commercial crops have already been lost, with severe damage also noted in wild populations, particularly in the Nicosia district.

Cypriot plant protection authorities requested this assistance to utilize biological methods to stop the spread of the organism. This collaborative effort represents a targeted response to the increasing threat posed by the insect, which has gradually devastated both commercial cultivation and natural plant habitats over the last decade.