Cactus Endangered in Cyprus Due to Harmful Pests

Cyprus is facing an invasion of a dangerous pest, the mealybug, which threatens to wipe out prickly pear cacti across the island.

According to Lisandros Lisandrides, an official from the Department of Agriculture, the invasive insect "Pseudococcus” was first detected in Cyprus in 2016, likely coming from Africa.

Initially discovered in the Famagusta area in the north of the island, the infestation has since spread to other regions, including Larnaca, Nicosia, and now Limassol.

These pests are destroying fruit-bearing cacti wherever they grow in the wild. Special precautions can help save the prickly pear cactus.

“If producers of edible cacti take timely measures, everything will be fine. However, prickly pears growing densely in hard-to-reach places in the wild could completely disappear,” warned the scientist.

The expert emphasized that the insect is likely to cover the entire island soon. In Spain, for example, it spreads at a rate of 30 km per year. Scientists had anticipated that Cyprus would be fully covered by the pest much earlier, but preventive measures have significantly slowed its spread.

Since 2016, scientists have focused on slowing the pest's spread and finding natural predators to combat the mealybug.

However, the main problem is that prickly pears often grow wild in inaccessible places where no one takes care of them.

“If someone discovers the insect, they should cut off the affected pads and bury them. Additionally, plants should be sprayed with high-pressure water, which may contain liquid soap and/or alcohol, as this will cause the insects to fall to the ground,” advised the scientist.

The insects do not fly, so long-distance contamination occurs through the transfer of infected plant material by natural carriers such as seeds, wind, water, rain, birds, humans, ants, and agricultural animals.

The Ministry of Agriculture is also considering other measures to combat the pest. However, based on the experiences of other countries, these methods are costly and ineffective. Therefore, agrarians are currently studying more resilient varieties of prickly pear.

The prickly pear, or “Opuntia ficus-indica,” is a cactus that thrives in hot and dry conditions. It can be found throughout the Cypriot countryside, adorned with beautiful flowers and edible fruits.

Prickly pear fruits are rich in vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. They are considered natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents that can aid digestion and promote heart health.