Cactus Juice for Bugs

History

• The botanist Luther Burbank studied the prickly pear cactus for its many uses in the early 20th century. In 1911, he found that, in addition to its effectiveness in treating skin wounds, the juice from this cactus helped to smother mosquito larvae when African people applied it to standing water.

Types

• The prickly pear cactus is the most effective cactus for repelling mosquitoes. It belongs to the genus Opuntia, which includes about 12 species. Beaver tail and bunny ear cacti also fall into this genus. Nicknames for prickly pear cactus are cactus pear and Indian fig. Fruits and fleshy "pads," called nopalitos, are edible.

Native Range and Growing Conditions

• Prickly pear cactus is native to the Southwestern deserts of the United States. It prefers dry, rocky soil on sunny hillsides or flat areas. The bearded prickly pear comes from the Chihuahuan Desert; beavertail cactus is from the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Blind prickly pear hails from Big Bend, Texas. It also grows well in Africa and Australia, but as an invasive species.