Olive tree bark beetle: symptoms, causes, control

Olive branch bark beetle. - The world of plants

The olive tree bark beetle is a harmful insect that feeds on the inner parts of the branches, leading to a deterioration in the health of the trees. This article from the “WORLD OF PLANTS” website discusses methods of prevention and control.

Symptoms of the olive tree bark beetle

  • Scientific name :Hylesinus oleiperda 
  • the family : coleoptera 
  • Dryness of small and medium branches, and the appearance of numerous holes adjacent to each other horizontally on the affected branch. 

Olive branch bark beetle. - The world of plants

Description of the olive tree bark beetle

The length of the insect is (3 mm). Its shape is oval. The body color is dark brown, covered with short, dense yellow hairs. The antennae are scepter-like, reddish-black, and there is an unclear outline on the sheaths. The larvae are white and legless. The head is relatively yellowish brown, and the chest rings are enlarged. 

Olive branch bark beetle. - The world of plants

Causes of olive tree bark beetle

  •  Constant use of chemicals. 
  •  Years in which there is less rain than rainy years because a lot of rain causes the tree to grow, so the trees’ resistance increases.

Suitable conditions for the spread of the olive tree bark beetle

  • Trees are weak or small. 
  • Not pruning. 

Development cycle of the olive tree bark beetle

It has one generation per year, and its appearance coincides with the flowering of olive trees in the month of May. Eggs are laid  throughout the summer, with single females laying up to 19 eggs 

After mating in the month of May, the females dig a tunnel in which they feed. When they come into contact with wood, they lay eggs along the breeding tunnel. The worm larvae make vertical tunnels on the tunnel of the mother insect. The larval stage lasts from June until the next May, then the insect turns into a pupa and then into a fully fledged insect. Early June to restart the life cycle.

Olive branch bark beetle. - The world of plants

Losses from the spread of the olive tree bark beetle

  •  Olives fall and buds dry 
  • It weakens the tree's growth.

Olive branch bark beetle. - The world of plants

Olive branch bark beetle. - The world of plants

Strategy for combating the olive tree bark beetle

Preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of the olive branch bark beetle

  • Avoid water stress.
  • Application of regenerative pruning.
  • Destroy symptomatic branches before the departure of adults (between March and May).
  • Taking care of agricultural operations, including fertilization, irrigation, and pruning.

Chemical and organic control recommendations 

  • Parasitism by two important species of Hymenopteran parasites: Cheiropachus Quadrum F. (Pteromalidae) and Dendrosoter protuberans (Braconidae)
  • The pesticides carbaryl and parathion gave good results, and methidathion gave some control
  •  Allow the driller to do the placement on the olive tree branches. After a few weeks of pruning, we destroy the branches before the larvae become adults

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References 

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