Investigating biological characteristics of olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Gmel). (Ditera: Tephritidae) in Tarom-Zanjan province

Olive fruit fly is the most important pest of the olive orchards throughout the world. The study of biological indexes was conducted in olive orchards and laboratory at Tarom-Zanjan research station. Results revealed that adults appeared out of the pupae from mid. April while the first infection time was recorded in ‘Konservalia’ cultivar in early July of the 2007 but early June of the 2008. The detailed study of the injurious generation of the pest showed that adults mating occurred at 3-7 days and led to egg laying after 14 days; the time from egg incubation till 3rd instar larval exit lasted 34.7±2.14 days and sex ratio was calculated as 1:1 (female:male). Reaction of the olive cultivars (Konsearvalia, Mari and Zard) to the fly was different based on the final product of the orchard implying if the fruits are grown for table olive, the Konservalia, Mari and Zard may be damaged respectively but in the case of oil production the trend of damage will be shifted to Mari, Zard and Konservalia.