Cactoblastis cactorum.

[Brian Scholtens]

Victor,

The best general reference that discusses Cactoblastis is H. H. 
Neunzig's recent (1997) fascicle (15.4) in the Moths of America North of 
Mexico series.  Cactoblastis is native to south America and has been 
transported to control Opuntia, but seems to have started spreading from 
the Carribean after being introduced there in 1957 and 1960.  Neunzig 
lists many Opuntia spp. that have been documented as host plants both in 
South American and the Carribean.  He has a good description of both the 
adult and the larva and photos of the adult.  He also gives a reference 
to biological information from Mann (1969) in the U.S. Nat. Mus. Bull.

Brian Scholtens
Biology Dept.
College of Charleston
Charleston, SC 29424
scholtensb at cofc.edu