IPM trials on attract-and-kill mixtures against the olive fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera Tephritidae

Abstract

The key insect pest of the olive grove is the olive fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin) because it affects the quantitative and qualitative production of olive oil. In order to first attract and then kill B. oleae adults before egg laying, thus limiting the infestation and avoiding treatments on the whole olive grove, we tested a mixture of the female sexual pheromone of the olive fly (1.7 dioxaspiro-5.5 undecane), the protein hydrolisate Buminal, and the insecticide Deltamethrin. We also tested different doses of the female sexual pheromone (1999: 1.212 ml/hl water and 2.424 ml/hl water; 2000: 2.424 ml/hl water and 4.848 ml/hl water). Both in 1999 and in 2000, treatments were applied when the gravity index Z exceeded the threshold level Z > 0.10. Irrespective of the general infestation level (high or low), the mixture successfully attracted and killed B. oleae adults. In both years, the mixture containing the pheromone at a dose of 2.424 ml/hl was the most effective.