Collections ofOpuntiaspp. (Cactaceae) cladophylls infested withDactylopius confusus(Cockerell) from two sites in west central Texas during 1982–84 yielded seven natural enemies, all predators. Major predators wereLaetilia coccidivora(Comstock),Leucopis bellulaWilliston, andHyperaspis trifurcataSchaeffer. Several parasites and hyperparasites were reared from these predators. No parasites or pathogens ofD. confususwere detected. Continuous exclusion of natural enemies from cladophylls artificially infested withD. confususresulted in high densities ofD. confusus.When natural enemies were continuously admitted for comparison,D. confususpopulations remained below the original infestation levels, and natural enemies admitted afterD. confususpopulation densities had increased through at leastone generation resulted in an immediate decrease in theD. confusesdensity. When natural enemies were continuously excluded fromD. confusus-infestedcladophylls, up to 81% of the cladophylls became necrotic, and only 4% produced new growth the following spring. However, where natural enemies were admitted, only 8%of the cladophylls manifested necrosis, and 75% produced new growth.