Control of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, (Diptera: Tephritidae) through mass trapping and mass releases of the parasitoid Psyttalia concolor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reared on irradiated Mediterranean fruit fly

Abstract Field studies were performed from 2002 to 2004 on Gokceada Island, Turkey, to determine the effectiveness of releases of the larval–pupal parasitoid Psyttalia concolor Szepligeti against the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Gmelin), alone and in combination with mass trapping, using EcoTraps®. For this, the parasitoid was reared on a factitious host, irradiated larvae of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Preparatory to making open-field augmentative releases, initial parasitoid releases were conducted throughout the 2001 season using confinement cages over branches bearing naturally infested olives into which parasitoids were introduced, using 1 ♀:♂ pair per 3 fruit oviposition punctures. Percent reduction in fly emergence due to parasitization in these cages was 26.9, 27.6, 18.0, and 24.7% from the first to the fourth olive fruit fly generations during the season, respectively. In 2002, open-field experiments were conducted in an experimental area (EA-1) containing 2500 olive trees. In this area...