Studying and targeting off-season olive fruit fly biology to prevent olive damage, amid climate change
Year: 2025
Type: review
Abstract: We review the literature on the seasonal biology of the olive fly ( Bactrocera oleae ), a practically monophagous pest of an iconic crop (olives), focusing on its less explored off-season (winter and spring) phenology. We argue that the spring generation is crucial for the pest’s population growth later in the season. While winter severity determines the survival patterns of the overwintering generation and the density of the founding population in spring, the abundance of breeding resources in spring (remaining fruit on trees) is crucial for the development of the spring generation with major effect on population growth later in the season. We conceptualize a model that captures the interactions between olive flies and olive fruit during spring and elucidates the cyclic patterns observed in the population dynamics of the fly across successive years. Furthermore, we propose novel approaches to the off-season management of olive fly, which offers a sound and environmentally friendly strategy for controlling the pest. • Off season biology of the olive fly determines population growth and infestation rates • Fruit availability in spring regulates biannual cyclic patterns of olive fly populations • Off season interventions against olive fly populations are proposed • Climate change is expected to increase winter survival of B. oleae and infestation severity
Authors: Nikos T Papadopoulos, Polychronis Rempoulakis, John Vontas
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,610
OpenAlex ID: W4417488700