Utilizing Olive Fly Ecology Towards Sustainable Pest Management

The olive fly (<i>Bactrocera oleae</i>, OLF) is a major pest of global significance that occurs in places where olive cultivation thrives. This paper highlights the economic and environmental damage caused by OLF infestations, including reduced olive oil yield and quality, disrupted supp...

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Main Authors: Giorgos Stavrianakis, Efstratios Sentas, Sofia Zafeirelli, Thomas Tscheulin, Thanasis Kizos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/2/125
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author Giorgos Stavrianakis
Efstratios Sentas
Sofia Zafeirelli
Thomas Tscheulin
Thanasis Kizos
author_facet Giorgos Stavrianakis
Efstratios Sentas
Sofia Zafeirelli
Thomas Tscheulin
Thanasis Kizos
author_sort Giorgos Stavrianakis
collection DOAJ
description The olive fly (<i>Bactrocera oleae</i>, OLF) is a major pest of global significance that occurs in places where olive cultivation thrives. This paper highlights the economic and environmental damage caused by OLF infestations, including reduced olive oil yield and quality, disrupted supply chains, and ecosystem imbalances due to heavy insecticide use. Understanding olive fly ecology is crucial for developing effective control strategies. The review explores the fly’s life cycle, its relationship with olive trees, and how environmental factors like temperature and humidity influence population dynamics. Additionally, studying the role of natural enemies and agricultural practices can pave the way for sustainable control methods that minimize environmental harm. Climate change, intensive cultivation, and the development of resistance to insecticides necessitate a shift towards sustainable practices. This includes exploring alternative control methods like biological control with natural enemies and attract-and-kill strategies. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of OLF ecology, including its response to temperature and its ability to find refuge in diverse landscapes, is critical for predicting outbreaks and implementing effective protection strategies. By employing a holistic approach that integrates ecological knowledge with sustainable control methods, we can ensure the continued viability of olive cultivation, protect the environment, and produce high-quality olive oil.
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spelling doaj-art-055bae10bccd47409f033c0de239468c2025-08-20T03:12:05ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-01-0114212510.3390/biology14020125Utilizing Olive Fly Ecology Towards Sustainable Pest ManagementGiorgos Stavrianakis0Efstratios Sentas1Sofia Zafeirelli2Thomas Tscheulin3Thanasis Kizos4Rural Geography & Precision Farming Systems Lab, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, Mytilene 81100, GreeceRural Geography & Precision Farming Systems Lab, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, Mytilene 81100, GreeceRural Geography & Precision Farming Systems Lab, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, Mytilene 81100, GreeceBiogeography & Ecology Lab, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, Mytilene 81100, GreeceRural Geography & Precision Farming Systems Lab, Department of Geography, University of the Aegean, Mytilene 81100, GreeceThe olive fly (<i>Bactrocera oleae</i>, OLF) is a major pest of global significance that occurs in places where olive cultivation thrives. This paper highlights the economic and environmental damage caused by OLF infestations, including reduced olive oil yield and quality, disrupted supply chains, and ecosystem imbalances due to heavy insecticide use. Understanding olive fly ecology is crucial for developing effective control strategies. The review explores the fly’s life cycle, its relationship with olive trees, and how environmental factors like temperature and humidity influence population dynamics. Additionally, studying the role of natural enemies and agricultural practices can pave the way for sustainable control methods that minimize environmental harm. Climate change, intensive cultivation, and the development of resistance to insecticides necessitate a shift towards sustainable practices. This includes exploring alternative control methods like biological control with natural enemies and attract-and-kill strategies. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of OLF ecology, including its response to temperature and its ability to find refuge in diverse landscapes, is critical for predicting outbreaks and implementing effective protection strategies. By employing a holistic approach that integrates ecological knowledge with sustainable control methods, we can ensure the continued viability of olive cultivation, protect the environment, and produce high-quality olive oil.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/2/125agroecologyolive flypest managementsustainability<i>Bactrocera oleae</i>climate change
spellingShingle Giorgos Stavrianakis
Efstratios Sentas
Sofia Zafeirelli
Thomas Tscheulin
Thanasis Kizos
Utilizing Olive Fly Ecology Towards Sustainable Pest Management
Biology
agroecology
olive fly
pest management
sustainability
<i>Bactrocera oleae</i>
climate change
title Utilizing Olive Fly Ecology Towards Sustainable Pest Management
title_full Utilizing Olive Fly Ecology Towards Sustainable Pest Management
title_fullStr Utilizing Olive Fly Ecology Towards Sustainable Pest Management
title_full_unstemmed Utilizing Olive Fly Ecology Towards Sustainable Pest Management
title_short Utilizing Olive Fly Ecology Towards Sustainable Pest Management
title_sort utilizing olive fly ecology towards sustainable pest management
topic agroecology
olive fly
pest management
sustainability
<i>Bactrocera oleae</i>
climate change
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/2/125
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AT sofiazafeirelli utilizingoliveflyecologytowardssustainablepestmanagement
AT thomastscheulin utilizingoliveflyecologytowardssustainablepestmanagement
AT thanasiskizos utilizingoliveflyecologytowardssustainablepestmanagement