Seasonal population changes of olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae and its damages on olive orchards in Tarom Sofla (Ghazvin province) in Iran

Olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi). (Dip.: Tephritidae) is the main pest of olive orchards in Guilan, Qazvin and Zanjan provinces. In this study seasonal population fluctuations, bio-ecology characteristics and olive orchard infestation were investigated in the orchards of Tarom Sofla (Ghazvin province) in 2014- 16. Sex pheromones (on yellow sticky traps) were used to catch the adult flies and fruit sampling carried out to reveal the pest development and fruits infestation rate. Based on the results, flight activity of the adults occurred throughout the season with different densities, which depends on weather conditions. The fly had 3-4 overlapping generation per year. Immature stages observed in mid-Jun. Ovipositing in the fruits (1st generation) started in late spring and early summer, coinciding with pit hardening. The 2nd generation found from mid-August to mid-September and the 3rd generation started from end of September. In three years, the fruit infestation means at Kalaj and Ghoshchi were 2.4%, 5.1%; 4.7%, 6.2% and 8.7%, 21.3%, respectively.