Impact of Microwave Radiation Treatment on the Mortality and Fertility of the Wild Cochineal Dactylopius Opuntiae

Microwave radiation treatment has emerged as a potential method for controlling Dactylopius opuntiae, a pest infesting cactus pear. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of microwave radiation at 2.45 GHz against adult females of D. opuntiae, focusing on mortality rates and fertility outcomes. Our findings reveal that microwave radiation treatment led to 23% of mortalitty rate for adult D. opuntiae with wax. On the other hand, 100% mortality of adult D. opuntiae without wax, indicating a protective effect of wax against microwave radiation. Additionally, the results demonstrate a substantial impact on the fertility of D. opuntiae adults with wax, expressed by a significant reduction in the number of developed nymphs compared to untreated adults.