The cactus serves as food for two different insects. The larvae of Gerstaeckeria sp. feed upon it and usually fatally damage it. Another insect, Chelinidea sp., also use the plant as food but don't cause severe enough damage to kill the plant.  Yet the greatest threat isn't from insects.  Rather, the greatest threat is from feral goats and domestic sheep.  Land development is also a great threat to the species.