If you would like to learn more about the IAEA’s work, sign up for our weekly updates containing our most important news, multimedia and more.
English IAEA/FAO-BSC/CM | 92-0-108304-1
| € 30.00 | Date published: 2004Alien invasive insect pests are increasingly threatening agriculture and the environment. In the context of rapidly growing international travel and trade, the potential for moving dangerous pest species to new geographical regions and locations has been increasing. One such species is the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Pyralidae). As a result of worldwide increases in opuntia cultivation and increased reliance on opuntia as a source of food, and on income from its products, the invasion by C. cactorum has a potential impact on thousands of subsistence farmers. Furthermore, C. cactorum is considered a serious threat to the high diversity of opuntia species in North America. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is the ideal tool to complement efforts to eliminate beachheads of alien insect invasions. An increased role is foreseen for the use of SIT in suppression of alien invasive species, which will help FAO and IAEA Member States deal with the threat of outbreaks of such pests.
More Information on reusing IAEA copyright material.
Orders and requests for information may also be addressed to:
Publishing Section
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100, A-1400 Vienna,
Austria
Tel.: +43 1 2600 22529, +43 1 2600 22530
Email: sales.publications@iaea.org
