Ecological Niche Modeling to Calculate Ideal Sites to Introduce a Natural Enemy: The Case ofApanteles opuntiarum(Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to ControlCactoblastis cactorum(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in North America

The cactus moth,Cactoblastis cactorum(Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is an invasive species in North America where it threatensOpuntianative populations. The insect is expanding its distribution along the United States Gulf Coast. In the search for alternative strategies to reduce its impact, the introduction of a natural enemy,Apanteles opuntiarumMartinez and Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), is being pursued as a biological control option. To identify promising areas to intentionally introduceA. opuntiarumfor the control ofC. cactorum, we estimated the overlap of fundamental ecological niches of the two species to predict their common geographic distributions using the BAM diagram. Models were based on native distributional data for both species, 19 bioclimatic variables, and the Maxent algorithm to calculate the environmental suitability of both species in North America. The environmental suitability ofC. cactorumin North America was projected from Florida to Texas (United States) along the Gulf coastal areas, reaching Mexico in northern regions.Apanteles opuntiarumenvironmental suitability showed a substantial similarity with the calculations forC. cactorumin the United States. Intentional introductions ofA. opuntiarumin the actual distribution areas of the cactus moth are predicted to be successful;A. opuntiarumwill find its host in an environment conducive to its survival and dispersal.