A New Ready-to-Use Mass Trapping System for the Control of Olive Fruit Fly Bactrocera oleae

The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae is the most destructive pest for olive production in the Mediterranean basin where the majority of the olives grown. The traditional control of this pest in Spain has been based mostly on bait sprays with organophosphate insecticides through aerial and terrestrial treatments.With the aim of searching for an efficient, economical and ecological method for fly control, BIOIBERICA, S.A has developed Dacus Trap®, an attractant formulation of natural origin, free from pesticides and based on a liquid protein obtained by an exclusive method of enzymatic hydrolysis, with a strong attraction capacity for olive fly adults in a ready-to-use mass trapping system which is quick and easy to handle.Several field trials were carried out in order to assess the effectiveness of Dacus Trap®. Here we describe three of the field trials conducted in Granada, Girona and Jaén. The field trial results suggest that the Dacus Trap® system is an effective system against Bactrocera oleae. It successfully controls the pest population due to its capture capacity, decreases olive fly damage and therefore provides a good option for current IPM strategies and organic.