To identify new natural enemies of olive fly for possible importation into
California, which was recently invaded by the fly, new surveys were
conducted of cultivated and wild olives in East and West Cape Provinces
(Rep. South Africa) during the southern hemisphere fall seasons of 2001,
2002 and 2003, and in the NE provinces (vicinity of Pretoria) in 2003. Fly
populations were consistently highest in West Cape Province, as were those
of their natural enemies. Several species of braconids (Bracon, Psyttalia
and Utetes spp.) are the most abundant parasitoids of the fly. Our results
were somewhat different than those reported from the last such surveys
conducted several decades ago. The influence of wild olive ecology and
rainfall patterns in South Africa on flies and parasitoids will be
discussed.
Species 1: Diptera Tephritidae Bactrocera oleae (olive fruit fly)
Keywords: biological control
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