Cactus moth quarantine permanently expanded to all of Louisiana

USDA-Animal and Plant Inspection Service has adopted a final rule to expand a quarantine for the South American cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) to cover the entire state of Louisiana to the list of quarantined areas. This rule was necessary to prevent the artificial spread of the moth to non-infested areas of the U.S. Indigenous to Argentina, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, the moth is a serious quarantine pest of Opuntia spp., and an occasional pest of Nopalea spp., Cylindropuntia spp. and Consolea spp., four closely related genera of the Cactaceae family.
In an interim rule that took effect on July 15, 2010, APHIS amended the regulations by adding the state of Louisiana to the list of quarantined areas. Effective on Dec. 27, 2010, the agency adopted the interim rule as a final rule.

Pictured: A quarantine to restrict the spread of the South American cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum) has been extended to cover all of the state of Louisiana.
Photo by Peggy Greb