When a cactus moth lays its eggs on an Opuntia cactus, it creates one of nature’s most effective camouflages. The eggs emerge as what is called an “egg stick”, because they look like the cactus spine.

Walnut Creek’s Ruth Bancroft is a national authority on drought-resistant gardening. Twice a month, she and her staff share their knowledge with readers. Prickly pears (aka opuntias) have the widest ...

Background and aims –Opuntia is the most widespread genus of Cactaceae, naturally occurring throughout arid and semi-arid areas of the Americas. Many of the species have taxonomic problems resulting ...

The desert prickly-pear, known to botanists as Opuntia phaeacantha, is the Southwest's most widespread and abundant species of cactus. Unlike the giant saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) that is restricted ...

Opuntia, the prickly pear cactus, originated in South America, moved into the valleys of the Andes and then north into Mexico and North America. In Southern California, opuntia grows in the coastal ...

Variation in plant performance between microhabitats is usually attributed to direct mechanisms, such as plant physiological tolerances or competitive interactions. However, indirect mechanisms, such ...

: I enjoy reading your column in the Las Vegas Review-Journal and now I have a question about my cacti. They have been wilted or thin for about 8 months. I bought them in October 2006 and planted them ...

When it comes to home security, more is less. While you would obviously secure your property's vulnerable points with smart security systems, supplementing it with strategic landscaping can further ...

The Opuntia cactus in Kenya has become a thorn in the side for many residents as it slowly chokes their livelihoods. With thick leafless and fleshy stems, the Opuntia cactus, which is covered in ...