Malena Fuentes Corona

Research focus:

Since October 2018, I have been earning my PhD at FuEDEI under a scholarship from Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT-ANPCyT). My thesis is «Damage and monitoring evaluation of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) on a cactus pear crop, Opuntia ficus-indica (Cactaceae), in northwest Argentina”.

The native lepidoptera Cactoblastis Cactorum (Berg) (Pyralidae), also known as cactus moth, is a pest of Opuntia ficus-indica L. (Cactaceae), cultivated in northwest and central Argentina. My research consists of determining the impact on the quantity and quality of fruit production of O. ficus-indica, caused by the occurrence of C. cactorum in a cactus pear crop.

The preferred orientation pattern that the invasive pest shows in a crop will also be studied to deduce management control strategies to be used throughout the year. Finally, this information will be merged with current monitoring strategies in order to estimate the potential damage that the cactus moth could inflict on a crop.

Current Research Projects:

• Cactoblastis cactorum (Cactus Moth), 2018 – to date.