Protecção contra pragas da oliveira: fomento da acção dos inimigos naturais pelo estabelecimento da flora autóctone

Olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, olive moth, Prays oleae, and black scale, Saissetia oleae, are the main olive pests in Europe. In Portugal, where olive is one the most important crops in the Northeast region, these three pests are widely distributed and coexist locally causing important damages. Despite extensive efforts over the last decades to biologically control these pests, current control measures are based on standard insecticide treatments that are overtly toxic. Increasing vegetation diversity in agroecosystems can lead to greater herbivore suppression by natural enemies. In particular, establishing floral vegetation can provide adult natural enemies much-needed dietary sugar for energy and physiological maintenance. Consequently, natural enemies may increase parasitism and predation levels and maintain pest under control in the presence of floral resources in the field. This methodology, however, has never been used and, more importantly, tested on olive groves.

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