Evaluation of the Critical Parameters Involved in Decisions to Control Bactrocera oleae in Olive Orchards in the Southern Region of Lebanon

Abstract

Modern agriculture requires technology to give precise measures of relevant parameters, such as those associated with pest control. Here, we developed an algorithm model as the basis for a bait spray intervention by monitoring the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) with conventional traps covering 24.3 hectares of non-irrigated Baladi olive cultivars in the Hasbaya region. We installed 49 yellow sticky traps with ammonium bicarbonate. The adults, both males and females, were monitored on a weekly basis. The traps and trees were georeferenced, and parameters such as the temperature, relative humidity, tree phenology (BBCH), and fruit load rate were compiled. The results show that the infested fruits were correlated equally with the fruit load rate and the number of adults captured, which in turn were correlated more with the temperature than the relative humidity. The number of males captured was higher than that of females throughout the cultivation period. The first symptoms of the fruits were observed on 22 September, when the BBCH was equal to 85, with an average number of adult captures of less than five when using traps over 7 days.