Common name: Olive fruit fly
Scientific name: Bactrocera oleae
Order: Diptera
Affects: Olive trees
Main season: Spring, Summer and Autumn
This species is associated with plants of the Olea genus and in particular to the olive tree. It is found throughout the Mediterranean Basin, South Africa, Canary Islands, India and Western Asia. In the Western hemisphere, it is only found in California. It is considered to be the most damaging pest of olive trees in the regions where it is present, even conditioning the quantity and quality of most crops.
Its attacks tend to increase in wetter and colder areas, with great variability depending on the variety of olives cultivated. It is less noticeable in areas with dry and hot summers.
The adult insect is a reddish-grey or orange colour which is highlighted by black spots.
It has transparent, iridescent wings and the lower part of its thorax is yellow. Its eggs are elongated and white. The larva is apodous and also white. The pupa is elongated and has a yellowish colour, that darkens as it grows.
On average, two to three generations can be observed every year, depending on the climate conditions. They usually overwinter in pupal stage which is located underground at little depth, although individuals can be found at all stages of development.
The adults of the first generation appear in March or April and spend some time feeding on sugary substances, such as the honeydew from some Homopterans, until they reach sexual maturity and begin to lay eggs. The female lays her eggs under the skin of the chosen olive. The olive should have the correct level of ripeness and must not be occupied by another egg. It is common for this insect to lay only one egg per olive.
After hatching, the larva feeds on the olive by excavating a small and torturous gallery. Once the larva has finished growing, it pupates inside the fruit near the epidermis.
Flight activity of the Olive fruit fly reaches its highest peaks in July and October. However, there is a greater increase in flight activity during October.
There are two types of damage caused by the Olive fruit fly: quantitative and qualitative.
Quantitative damage is caused by second stage larvae and especially third stage larvae. They consume an important amount of the olive’s pulp, which as a result, reduces the quality of the oil. Part of the production is lost because the olives that have been attacked fall prematurely from the tree. In olives used to produce oil, damage caused by the bite marks and first stage larvae do not have a significant economic impact. However, for table olives, the bite marks depreciate the value of the product.
However, for table olives, the bite marks depreciate the value of the product.
In terms of quality, it should be considered that olives with a high percentage of this pest produce oil of poorer quality, particularly if they are third stage larvae. The oil extracted from these olives may have an acidity level (expressed in oleic acid) from 2% to 10% depending on the percentage of infestation. It is also less possible to preserve these oils because they contain a higher percentage of peroxide.
Third stage larva
© Giancarlo Dessi
Olive with a fresh bite mark
of Dacus (Bactrocera) oleae
Exit holes created by the Olive fruit fly
© Giancarlo Dessi
Due to the attacks from this fly, secondary qualitative damage also occurs. The remains left behind by the larva inside the fruit, produce fungi that deteriorate the quality of the oil extracted. This secondary damage in quality is more obvious in oils extracted from olives that have been attacked, then picked from the ground or they may also have been stored for many days before being crushed in the olive press.
1 to 2 traps per hectare should be placed depending on the location and uniformity of the plots.
The traps should be installed 3 months before harvesting, on the south side of the olive trees at 1.5 to 2 metres high.
10 to 20 traps per hectare should be placed depending on the location and uniformity of the plots. One trap controls an area of 500 m2 to 1.000 m2.
The traps should be installed as soon as there are captures and 3 months before harvesting. The traps should be placed on the south side of the olive trees at 1.5 to 2 metres high.
On the borders of the plots, it will be necessary to set a barrier of traps separated 10 to 15 metres apart from each other.
To obtain good control of the Olive fruit fly, it is advisable to combine two methods: detection and monitoring; and mass trapping.
At the beginning of summer, 1 trap per hectare should be placed to detect the pest and observe its population levels. Through tolerance thresholds established in each area, the moment to adopt control measures is later defined, in this case mass trapping.
The tolerance threshold for Dacus (Bactrocera) oleae is very low and varies depending on the area. In general, there are between 1 and 5 captures per trap, per day.
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT KIT
Bottle-shaped disposable trap in the form of a closed bottle. It has 4 diagonal holes with yellow polypropylene inserts that have a truncated cone shape. These inserts make it easier for the target insects to enter the trap, both by chromotropic attraction as well as its funnel shape, also preventing their exit. The trap contains four tablets (20 g) of food attractant to dissolve in 500 ml of water. The trap includes a wire hanger to hang from a branch.
It lasts approximately 100 days in normal field conditions, provided that the level of water remains stable. This will depend on temperature, relative humidity, wind and sun exposure.
INSTRUCTIONS: Take the bottle cap off, add 500 ml of water (up to the indicated level on the inside sticker), close the bottle cap again, remove the upper label to open the holes and hang the bottle from a branch on the sunny side of the tree. Refill the bottle if more than 1/3 of water evaporates.
PRODUCT STORAGE: The product must be stored away from food and beverages in its original packaging, in a cool, dry place, in which case it will remain valid for 3 years from the date of manufacture.
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT KIT
Kit composed of a disposable trap with four tablets of food attractant to dilute in water + 1 hanger
Code: UIPHOVA345
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 120/2015
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT + ECONEX BOTTLE TRAP
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 20 KG
Container with 20 kg of product.
(4000 tablets)
Code: UIPHOVA448
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 120/2015
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 10 KG
Container with 10 kg of product.
(2000 tablets)
Code: UIPHOVA214
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 120/2015
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 5 KG
Container with 5 kg of product.
(1000 tablets)
Code: UIPHOVA321
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 120/2015
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 1 KG
Container with 1 kg of product.
(200 tablets)
Code: UIPHOVA322
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 120/2015
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 0,25 KG
Container with 0,25 kg of product.
(50 tablets)
Code: UIPHOVA333
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 120/2015
ECONEX BOTTLE TRAP
Code: UIPFETA250
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 009/2025
Dissolve 4 or 5 tablets in 500 ml of water and pour into an ECONEX BOTTLE TRAP.
Hang the trap from a branch at a height of 1.5 to 2 m, on the sunny side of the tree.
To examine the captures, you have to filter the contents of the trap into a strainer and keep the liquid.
It lasts approximately 100 days in normal field conditions, depending on temperature, relative humidity, degree of sun exposure and type of trap used.
Activate the trap by dissolving 4 or 5 tablets in 500 ml of water.
Place 1 or 2 traps per hectare. The traps must be activated at least 2 weeks before the start of the target insect’s flight period.
Increase the number of traps per hectare. It could be necessary from 70 to 120 traps/ha.
The product must be stored away from food and beverages in its original packaging, in a cool, dry place. In these conditions, it will last for 3 years from the production date.
ECONEX BACTROCERA OLEAE 20 MG 60 DAYS
ECONEX BACTROCERA OLEAE 30 MG 90 DAYS
Pheromone diffuser to attract males of the Olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae + 1 hanger in the form of a clip. It lasts for 60 and 90 days respectively.
The diffuser is a polyethylene tube that is individually packaged in an aluminium sachet with labelled specifications.
Once removed from its packaging, the diffuser needs no activation or opening, just placed correctly in the trap.
In general, the diffuser is used together with an ECONEX YELLOW CHROMATIC 40 X 25 CM so that the flies attracted by the diffuser are caught on the adhesive of the trap. Once the trap has been placed on the olive tree, attach the ECONEX BACTROCERA OLEAE 20 MG 60 DAYS diffuser, or the ECONEX BACTROCERA OLEAE 30 MG 90 DAYS diffuser to one of the holes of the trap. Use the paperclip hanger provided with the product.
ECONEX BACTROCERA OLEAE 20 MG 60 DAYS
Packaging, attractant+pheromone of Bactrocera oleae.
Code: UIPHOVA122
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 074/2013
ECONEX BACTROCERA OLEAE 30 MG 90 DAYS
Packaging, attractant+pheromone of Bactrocera oleae.
Code: UIPHOVA402
ECONEX YELLOW CHROMATIC 40 X 25 CM
Adhesive chromatic trap consisting of a light-resistant polyethylene yellow sheet of 1,000 cm2 (40 x 25 cm), with a 2x2 cm grid printed in black, on both sides.
Code: UIPFETA125
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 029/2023
DACUSNEX® COMBI
DACUSNEX® COMBI is a product authorised for use in organic farming. It is a combination of 2 attractants: a food attractant and the female pheromone attractant of Dacus (Bactrocera) oleae to attract female and male Olive fruit flies.
The diffuser is a blister pack which is individually packaged in an aluminium sachet with labelled specifications. It lasts for 90 days under normal field conditions.
Once removed from its packaging, the diffuser does not need activating or opening, just placed correctly in the trap.
In general DACUSNEX® COMBI is used together with an ECONEX YELLOW CHROMATIC 40 X 25 CM so that the flies attracted by the diffuser are caught on the adhesive of the trap. Once the trap has been placed on the olive tree, attach the DACUSNEX® COMBI 90 DAYS diffuser to one of the holes of the trap. Use the paperclip hanger provided with the product. Do not place the metallic part in contact with the adhesive.
DACUSNEX® COMBI 90 DAYS 1 UNIT
Packaging, hanger and attractants diffuser.(front and back view)
Code: UIPHOVA253
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 087/2015
DACUSNEX® COMBI 90 DAYS
20 UNITS
DACUSNEX® COMBI is a combination of 2 attractants. The first is a food attractant and the second is the female pheromone of Dacus (Bactrocera) oleae, to attract the female and male species of the Olive fruit fly.
Code: UIPHOVA334
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 087/2015
ECONEX YELLOW CHROMATIC 40 X 25 CM
Adhesive chromatic trap consisting of a light-resistant polyethylene yellow sheet of 1,000 cm2 (40 x 25 cm), with a 2x2 cm grid printed in black, on both sides.
Code: UIPFETA125
OMDF register number (Ministry of Agriculture of Spain): 087/2015
The diffusers must be stored in their original packaging in a cool and dry place and separated from food and drinks.
To preserve the diffusers for long periods of time, it is recommended to keep them in the refrigerator at 4 o C in which case they will last for 2 years. Or they can be kept in the freezer at -20 o C for 4 years.
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT KIT
Corrugated cardboard box 35 units.
Box size: 0.42 x 0.60 x 0.27 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 3.10 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 28
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 2.05 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 96 kg.
Box of 35 units.
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 20 KG
No. of boxes per pallet: 30
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 1.85 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 640 kg.
Box of 1 unit.
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 10 KG
Corrugated cardboard box of 2 units.
Box size: 0.40 x 0.60 x 0.35 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 22.80 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 20
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 1.95 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 466 kg.
Box of 2 units.
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 5 KG
Corrugated cardboard box of 4 units.
Box size: 0.40 x 0.60 x 0.35 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 22.70 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 20
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 1.95 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 464 kg.
Box of 4 units.
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 0,25 KG
Corrugated cardboard box of 10 units.
Box size: 0.32 x 0.24 x 0.22 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 3.25 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: : 88
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 1.95 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 296 kg.
Box of 10 units.
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT 1 KG
Corrugated cardboard box of 16 units.
Box size: 0.40 x 0.60 x 0.35 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 19.10 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 20
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 1.95 m length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 392 kg.
Box of 16 units.
ECONEX BOTTLE TRAP
Corrugated cardboard box of 35 units.
Box size: 0.42 x 0.60 x 0.27 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 2.10 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 28
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 2.05 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 69 kg.
Box of 35 units.
ECONEX BACTROCERA OLEAE 20 MG 60 DAYS
Corrugated cardboard box of 400 units (20 packs of 20 units).
Box size: 0.32 x 0.24 x 0.22 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 1.6 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 80
Pallet size:0.80 x 1.20 x 2.05 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 162 kg.
Pack of 20 units.
Includes a product information leaflet
Box of 400 units.
(20 packs x 20 units)
ECONEX BACTROCERA OLEAE 30 MG 90 DAYS
Corrugated cardboard box of 400 units (20 packs of 20 units).
Box size: 0.32 x 0.24 x 0.22 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 1.6 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 80
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 2.05 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 162 kg.
Pack of 20 units.
Includes a product information leaflet
Box of 400 units.
(20 packs x 20 units)
ECONEX YELLOW CHROMATIC 40 X 25 CM
Corrugated cardboard box of 250 units.
Box size: 0.29 x 0.42 x 0.21 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 16 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 50
Pallet size: 1.00 x 1.10 x 1.25 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 810 kg.
Box of 250 units.
DACUSNEX® COMBI 90 DAYS 1 UNIT.
Corrugated cardboard box of 400 units (80 packs of 5 units).
Box size: 0.40 x 0.60 x 0.35 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 12 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 20
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 1.95 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 250 kg.
Pack of 5 units.
Includes a product information leaflet
Box of 400 units.
(80 packs x 5 units)
Corrugated cardboard box of 400 units (20 packs of 20 units).
Box size: 0.40 x 0.60 x 0.35 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 11 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 20
Pallet size: 0.80 x 1.20 x 1.95 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 230 kg.
Pack of 20 units.
Box of 400 units.
(20 packs of 20 units)
Includes a product information leaflet
ECONEX YELLOW CHROMATIC 40 X 25 CM
Corrugated cardboard box of 250 units.
Box size: 0.29 x 0.42 x 0.21 m (length x width x height).
Box weight: 16 kg.
No. of boxes per pallet: 50
Pallet size: 1.00 x 1.10 x 1.25 m (length x width x height).
Pallet weight: 810 kg.
Box of 250 units.
CERATINEX® ATTRACTANT LEAFLET
Leaflet in PDF format that can be downloaded by clicking on the image.
ECONEX BACTROCERA OLEAE LEAFLET
Leaflet in PDF format that can be downloaded by clicking on the image.
ECONEX DACUSNEX© COMBI LEAFLET
Leaflet in PDF format that can be downloaded by clicking on the image.
ECONEX LEARNING CENTER
ECONEX puts at your disposal the first open knowledge center that brings together everything necessary to implement pest biocontrol in your crops. We have developed different types of resources to share with you the knowledge we have acquired during our more than 38 years of experience. Each of them is designed to respond, in the best possible way, to different questions related to pheromones, attractants, repellents and insect traps.
To access ECONEX LEARNING CENTER click on the image.
SANIDAD AGRÍCOLA ECONEX, S.L. only guarantees the composition, formulation and content of the products, taking responsibility for the direct, immediate and exclusive damages caused in the composition, formulation and content of the products sold. SANIDAD AGRÍCOLA ECONEX, S.L. will not be held responsible for damages produced by factors beyond the company’s control that have either totally or partially contributed. For instance, the weather conditions, usage or mixing with other products, amongst others. In addition, SANIDAD AGRÍCOLA ECONEX, S.L. will provide recommendations and information supported by extensive and meticulous research and tests; which must be taken into account by the customer when using the products. The customer will be responsible for any damage caused, in whole or in part, for the total or partial non-observance of the instructions provided. Furthermore, the customer will be responsible for all that is referred to as the performance of the products; which comes from total or partial non-observance of the instructions and information provided by the company.