Evaluation of commercial traps of various designs for capturing the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

The attractiveness of six different traps, one hand-made and five commercially available, on olive fruit fly adults, was compared in the field. Experiments were undertaken at three different localities of Messinia Co., SW Greece, with varying conditions of fruit load and pest population density. The Glass-Plastic Elkofon Trap attracted more adult flies than any other type of trap. Satisfactory catches were also given by the Glass McPhail trap, the Plastic McPhail trap and the Plastic Elkofon trap, whereas low attractiveness was demonstrated by the Bottle trap and the Pouch trap. It is clear from the findings of this study that trap captures of the olive fruit fly are significantly influenced by trap design (e.g. shape, materials, special features), especially during the period of the high population peak (mid-September – early November) as well as in olive orchards with a high pest population density. In olive orchards with a low pest population density no significant differences were recorded among captures of different trap types. We discuss ways of improving the mass-trapping technique as a control method against olive fruit fly.

Keywords:

• Mass trapping
• olive crop
• olive fly
• Greece

Acknowledgements

The author would like to express his gratitude to Department of Plant Protection of Messinia prefecture and biological olive growers, for supplying traps. He also thanks all olive growers at Arfara, Kardamili and Analipsis for their permission to conduct experiments. Assistance of colleagues from Local Offices of Agricultural Service and Technological Educational Institute of Kalamata, with trap checks is greatly appreciated.