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Genus Cactoblastis

Cactoblastis cactorum Cactoblastis cactorum Cactoblastis cactorum Cactoblastis cactorum Caterpillar I.D. - Cactoblastis cactorum Tropical Cactus Borer - Cactoblastis cactorum Cactoblastis cactorum Cactus Moth - Cactoblastis cactorum
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Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Pyraloidea (Pyralid and Crambid Snout Moths)
Family Pyralidae (Pyralid Moths)
Subfamily Phycitinae
Tribe Phycitini
No Taxon (Cactus-Feeding Group)
Genus Cactoblastis
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cactoblastis Ragonot, 1901; in Romanoff, Mém. Lépid. 8 : 15
Explanation of Names
From cactus (a Greek word for some spiny plant- kaktos/κακτος- which was used for the American plant when it was first scientifically described.) + blastos (&betas;λστος)- "shoot, sprout, growth", with a Latin adjective ending so that all together it means "of cactus pads"
Numbers
One species recently introduced into North America
Range
Its range keeps expanding from Florida, where it was first detected.
Remarks
Native to South America. Introduced around 1989 to Florida Keys
Print References
Mann, J. (1969) Cactus-Feeding Insects and Mites; USNM Bull. 256, p.44
Internet References
University of Florida
Contributed by Chuck Entz on 23 September, 2006 - 12:36pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, Randy Hardy
Last updated 25 February, 2020 - 4:21pm

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