In cultivation, Copiapoa are relatively easy cacti in terms of pest control. The epidermis of mature plants is quite thick and tough, so that the usual glass house pests found in European cactus collections - mealy bug and red spider mite - usually pass the Copiapoa, preferring the softer types. The inevitable exception that proves the rule are members of the Humilis and Hypogaea groups, with soft bodied plants and a thinner epidermis, and all Copiapoa at the seedling stage. 

In habitat, it is a different story. Unfortunately, mankind would appear to be the most serious pest and I'll dedicate pages elsewhere to this issue, including damage caused by cars, donkeys and cattle, introduced by man.

 

The largest natural pest we encountered is the Guanaco, a species of South American camel that shares the Chilean coastal hills with our favourite cacti. They too seem to favour seedlings and soft bodied species, in particularly C. laui and C. humilis and its subspecies.

Mice, rats and other rodents
Damage caused by rodent's chewing
S062 - C. humilis
Photo PK

The culprit
Photo PK

Faeces left by the rodent diners.
S062 - C. humilis
Photo PK

Borer beetles .....

Larva of ??? on Copiapoa dealbata flower
Photo: Juan P. Acosta

Scale insect on C. cinerea 'albispina'
S054 - Quebrada San Ramon
Photo: PK

Eventually, the conditions in the Atacama Desert become so tough ...

... that there are no obvious signs of life in the desert.