Use of Biodegradable Products for the Control of Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) in Cactus Pear

In the semi-arid region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, prickly-pear is the main source of livelihood of thousands of families that depend on this crop to feed their cattle, goats and sheep, especially in times of drought. The main factor limiting the productivity of prickly-pear is the insect Dactylopius opuntiae, popularly known as carmine cochineal, reported as a pest of great importance, being spread over several states in northeastern Brazil. The use of alternative products, in place of chemical insecticides, has been performed in several studies because of the low toxicity to humans and the environment. In this study, conducted in a greenhouse at one of the experimental stations of Pernambuco Agronomic Institute - IPA, were tested three neutral detergent concentrations, cassava starch, liquid waste generated in the pressing process of cassava, mineral oil and neen for control of carmine cochineal. All evaluations were performed using a grade scale ranging from 0 (without damage) to 4 (more than 75% of pads infested). The results of this experiment showed that neen was the most efficient treatment, followed by neutral detergent and mineral oil.