4. DISCUSSION
Our study confirmed that H. pungens , commonly called the Harrisia cactus mealybug (HCM), is not a single polyphagous species, but a species complex consisting of at least five species. Each member of the complex was associated with particular hosts, indicating a high degree of specificity at the host plant family level. Our genomic survey allowed the identification of the source population from which the Puerto Rico cactus pest was derived. This is an important achievement since it will help to design reliable strategies for classical biological control using natural enemies, such as specialized parasitoids, associated with the pest in its native range.