Moth Photographers Group – Cactoblastis cactorum

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

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Pyralidae

80a0525 – 5970.1 Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg, 1885)

Cactus Moth

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Distribution Data for Cactoblastis cactorum

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Distribution:	Introduced to Florida and spreading to nearby states. South America.
Larva and Host Plants:	Host familiy: Cactaceae. Host genera: Cleistocactus Consolea Opuntia Nopalea Salmonopuntia. (Shropshire & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:	Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:	cactorum (Berg, 1885) (Zophodia) - MONA 1983: [NEW]
Taxonomic Notes:	Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg, 1885) is now recognized among the North American fauna north of Mexico (southeast coasts).

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
Factsheet at Florida Featured Creatures.
Neunzig, H. H., 1997. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 15.4: p. 67; pl. 3.33. order or free PDF
Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
Species Page at BugGuide.Net
Species Page at iNaturalist

Moth Photographers Group at the Mississippi Entomological Museum at the Mississippi State University

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