Israeli scientists release beetles in Cyprus to protect prickly pear trees

Nicosia, Cyprus. Israeli scientists have released around 200 predatory beetles in Cyprus to help control an invasive insect that has damaged up to 30 per cent of the island’s prickly pear crop since 2016.

The beetles, a natural predator of Dactylopius opuntiae, were released at selected sites after Cyprus sought assistance from Israel’s agriculture ministry and the Volcani agricultural research institute.

Biological control effort

The mission was led by Professor Zvika Mendel, an emeritus researcher at Volcani, who previously worked to combat the same pest in Israel after it was identified there in 2013.

Mendel and researcher Dr Sahar Samra collected about 200 Hyperaspis trifurcata beetles. The insects underwent laboratory checks before being transported to Cyprus.

Mendel returned about five weeks after the release to inspect the sites and found that the beetles had established themselves and had begun reducing the pest population.

Damage to crops and wild plants

Commercial prickly pear cultivation covers about 1,500 acres in Cyprus, with between 300 and 450 acres already damaged by Dactylopius opuntiae.

Significant losses have also been recorded among wild prickly pear populations in Nicosia and other parts of the island.

Support from Israel

Cyprus offered to fund the work, but the Israeli team declined, Mendel said.

“They offered us a research budget to do the work. I told them immediately we will help you for free, for the good of the Cypriot people,” he said, describing the initiative as an example of “green diplomacy”.