Olive Fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera, Tephritidae) Activity and Fruit Infestation Under Mass Trapping in an Organic Table Olive Orchard in Crete, Greece

Abstract

Olive fly activity in a commercial organic table olive orchard was monitored for 80 weeks using McPhail traps for two successive years, a fruiting and a non-fruiting year. Mass traps were employed from the end of May to limit fruit damage. In the fruiting year, fly activity increased steadily with a peak in June–July but there was very little activity after July for both years. The lack of activity from July onward was reflected in very low fruit infestation in the fruiting year. Mean maximum temperatures were generally 34–35^oC from July to September. High mortality of olive fly adults, eggs, and larvae was likely because of sustained high temperatures. The trend in Mediterranean olive growing areas appears to be for increasing summer temperatures and olive fly control measures may have to take into account aspects of climate fluctuation.

Keywords:

• Bactocera oleae
• climate
• mass trapping
• olive fly
• organic farming
• table olives
• temperature

Acknowledgments

The Greek State Scholarship Foundation is gratefully acknowledged for supporting the research of N. Volakakis. This work was supported by the European Union Integrated Project QualityLowInputFood (EU FP6 Contract CT-2003-506358.) and the National Agricultural Research Foundation. The authors thank E. Papadaki and Aik. Vasiliou for permission to use the olive orchard and for cooperation in the management of the orchard, Dr G. Stavrakis (Phytophyl S.A. Athens, Greece) for providing free ENTOMELA food attractant and ELKOFON traps, and Dr. N. Ragousis (Vioryl. S.A. Athens, Greece) for providing free Ecotraps.