Tekelenburg, I.A. 1995 La producción de cochinilla (Dactylopius coccus Costa) en ambientes semi-controlados. [Production of the cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa) in semi-controlled environments.]. [Knowledge and Improvement of the Prickly Pear. Proceedings of the 6th National Congress and 4th International Congress.] [University of Guadalajara] Universidad de Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico 308 pp.

Notes: [Original title of conference proceedings: Conocimiento y Aprovechamiento del Nopal. Memorias del 6to Congreso Nacional y 4to Congreso Internacional.] The potential for producing cochineal (Dactylopius coccus Costa) in semi-controlled sheds in Bolivia was great, because this technology was considered more productive than in the open field and because the host plant (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill) would not be damaged by the "plague" during the insect's development and production. Prickly pear could become useful as a multi-purpose plant in the integrated development of traditional peasant production. Research was required to fit the production technology to the special conditions of Bolivian production. Various factors which limit high production yields were identified. These include abiotic factors, such as the maximum temperature in the shed, and biotic factors related to the state of the cochineal and prickly pear cladodes, mortality of the crawlers according to initial infestation level, quality of the final product, and strength, initial weight and variety of cladode. The inability to increase production through applied technology was observed as a technical agricultural constraint. The requirements for good development of the insect and the host plant were opposite with respect to climatological factors and the nutritive requirements of the insect. These limitations indicated that production of cochineal in semi controlled sheds is relatively low compared to production in the open field and not financially viable in the case of Bolivia. The use of cochineal production in sheds as an investigation method to control biotic and abiotic error was also limited.