The olive moth is an insect pest that attacks olive trees, causing damage to the leaves and fruits. This article from the “WORLD OF PLANTS” website explains how to recognize the infection and ways to prevent it.
Symptoms of moth (olive moth)
- Scientific name : prays oleae
- the family : Olethreutidae
- The larval grooves are S-shaped. The larvae of the first generation feed on flowers and flower buds after collecting them with a silk net. The larvae of the second generation dig into the pulp, core, and entry hole near the neck of the fruit.
Description of the moth (olive moth)
فراشة صغيرة طولها 6 مم لونها رمادي منقط بالبني والأصفر وفي مركز الجناح الأمامي بقعتان بلون قاتم ، الأجنحة الخلفية صفراء مهدبة الحافة .. اليرقة اسطوانية بنية فاتحة او رمادية مخضرة مخططة طوليا … العذراء من النوع المكبل ضمن شرنقة حريرية بيضاء .
Causes of moth (olive moth)
Damage to shoots, leaves and fruits is caused by three different generations of Prays oleae larvae.
- First generation: phyllophagous, develops on leaves.
- Anteaters, developing on flowers.
- Carbophagus develops on fruits. The carbophagous generation is responsible for the most important economic damage, as it causes fruit loss
Suitable conditions for the spread of moth (olive moth)
- The damage caused fluctuates every year, and is often related to weather conditions
- Frequent use of chemicals.
Moth development cycle (olive moth)
- The eggs of the anthological generation are laid on flower buds, and after hatching, the larvae feed on the flowers. Its adult flight occurs at the end of spring, when it lays Carbophagus eggs on the olive calyx. The larvae of the carbophagous generation burrow into the olive pit and feed on the seeds.
- At the end of summer and beginning of fall, adult insects appear and lay their eggs on olive leaves.
- Phyllophagous larvae feed on leaves and dig tunnels in them, where they spend the winter until the following spring.
Moth (olive moth) propagation losses
- Destroying a large number of flowers.
- Infected fruits fall as of late August.
- Infected fruits cannot germinate.
Yield and economic losses were assessed. When the final attack is “high” (more than 40% of the fruits fall), which happens approximately once every three years.
Moth control strategy (olive moth)
- Habitat management strategies to enhance the activity of natural enemies in the olive grove.
- Studies confirm the attraction of C. carnea to the olive moth, and highlight the potential of C. carnea as a biological control agent for this pest.
- Use resistant varieties.
Preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of moth (olive moth)
- Promoting land use diversity has a significant impact on reducing the abundance of the pest, and helps avoid the economic and environmental problems associated with it (many studies have indicated that landscape heterogeneity or complexity reduces important olive pests)
Chemical and organic control recommendations for moth (olive moth)
- Promoting land use diversity has a significant impact on reducing the abundance of the pest, and helps avoid the economic and environmental problems associated with it (many studies have indicated that landscape heterogeneity or complexity reduces important olive pests)
- Use appropriate pheromones.
- Attractant food spray containing a microcapsule of tryptophan, brewer's yeast, sucrose and water (organic control)
In conclusion, we would like to note that we, at the world of plants website, offer you all the necessary services in the world of plants, we provide all farmers and those interested in plants with three main services::-
- Artificial intelligence consulting service to help you identify diseases that affect plants and how to deal with them.
- Blog about plants, plant diseases and care of various crops ... You are currently browsing one of her articles right now.
- An application that provides agricultural consultations to clients, as well as a service for imaging diseases and knowing their treatment for free – Click to download the Android version from Google Play Store، Click to download the IOS version from the Apple App Store.
- References
- Mills, N. (2010). Egg parasitoids in biological control and integrated pest management. Egg parasitoids in agroecosystems with emphasis on Trichogramma, 389-411.
- YILMAZ, Çığdem; GENÇ, Hanıfe. Determination of the life cycle of the olive fruit leaf moth, Palpita unionalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in the laboratory. Florida Entomologist, 2012, 95.1: 162-170.
- Lantero, Esther, Beatriz Matallanas, and Carmen Callejas. “Current Status of the Main Olive Pests: Useful Integrated Pest Management Strategies and Genetic Tools.” Applied Sciences 13.21 (2023): 12078.
- Ramos, P., Campos, M., & Ramos, J. M. (1998). Long-term study on the evaluation of yield and economic losses caused by Prays oleae Bern. In the olive crop of Granada (southern Spain). Crop Protection, 17(8), 645-647.
- Long-term study on the evaluation of yield and economic losses caused by Prays oleae Bern. in the olive crop of Granada (southern Spain) – sciencedirect
- Prays oleae (Bernard), its potential predators and biocontrol depend on the structure of the surrounding landscape – sciencedirect
- BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF PRAYS OLEAE (BERN.) BY CHRYSOPIDS IN TRÁS-OS-MONTES REGION (NORTHEASTERN PORTUGAL) – actahort
English 
Arabic