Biological control deployed to save Cyprus prickly pear cacti

Cypriot agricultural authorities have initiated a biological control program to combat an invasive pest threatening the island's prickly pear cacti, known locally as papoutsosykies. According to senior agricultural officer Lysandros Lysandridis, the parasite—a type of cochineal—has spread across the entire territory, causing the cacti to wither and die after the insect drains their sap. Chemical treatments have proven ineffective because the pest's waxy coating protects it from pesticides.

To address the crisis, Cyprus collaborated with the Volcani Center in Israel to introduce a predatory beetle, *Hyperaspis trifurcata*. Originally native to Mexico, the beetle is a natural predator that consumes the cochineal larvae; a single beetle can eliminate up to 5,000 larvae during its lifespan. This species was successfully acclimated to local conditions by Israeli researchers before being transferred to Cyprus.

The pest was first identified in the Famagusta area in September 2016 and subsequently spread to Larnaca, Nicosia, and Limassol. Following the successful initial release of the beetles in June 2026, authorities are now observing new generations of the insect. The Department of Agriculture is currently entering the phase of large-scale dispersal across the country to curb the infestation and prevent the total destruction of the cactus population.