Marissa Newman is The Times of Israel political correspondent.
KKL-JNF Chief Forester David Brand scattering "Cryptolaemus montrouzieri" beetles over an infected prickly pear cactus plant in northern Israel. (Ancho Gosh/Gini)
In an effort to save Israel’s beloved national fruit, recently infected in northern Israel by a parasitic bug, 150,000 ladybird beetles were unleashed to combat the spread of the lethal scale insect.
The aggressive “Etzbarit,” also known as Dactylopius opuntiae, was detected by Volcani Center and KKL-JNF researchers.
The insect, which has latched onto the prickly plants in parts of the Hula Valley, could threaten the cacti throughout the country if measures were not taken to restrain its infestation.
To curb its damaging effects, thousands of “Cryptolaemus montrouzieri” beetles were set on the parasite, after lab tests proved the ladybugs effective for tackling the spread.
The “Cryptolaemus montrouzieri” beetle (photo credit: Ancho Gosh/Gini)
The sabra stands as a cultural reference for native-born Israelis, who, legend would have it, like the prickly pear for which they are named, boast a thorny exterior masking soft and sweet internal qualities.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Editionby email and never miss our top stories
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
