Hymenoptera parasitoid complex of Prays oleae (Bernard) (Lepidoptera: Praydidae) in Portugal

Abstract

The olive moth,Prays oleae(Bernard) (Lepidoptera: Praydidae), is one of the most important pests of olive trees throughoutthe Mediterranean region, the Black Sea, the Middle East, and the Canary Islands. Thus, it is particularly important to developalternative strategies to control this pest. Over a 4-year period, a survey was done in order to acquire knowledge about the complex ofparasitoids associated with this pest. Leaves, flowers, and fruit infested with larvae and pupae ofP. oleaewere collected from olive groves,conditioned in vials, and kept under laboratory conditions until the emergence ofP.o l e a eadults or parasitoids. The abundance andrichness of parasitoids as well as the rate of parasitism was estimated. Hymenoptera parasitoids were found to be responsible for 43%of the mean mortality of the sampled individuals. From the 22 parasitoid species recorded, three dominated in terms of the provokedparasitism rates:Ageniaspis fuscicollis(Dalman) (Encyrtidae),Chelonus elaeaphilusSilvestri (Braconidae), andElasmus flabellatus(Fonscolombe) (Elasmidae) (Hymenoptera). Additionally, several of the identified taxa were reported for the first time in Portugal asparasitoids ofP.o l e a e . Moreover, a strong relationship between the species of parasitoids and the generation of the pest was found. Giventhe moth s presence and its impact on olive tree production worldwide, the outcomes of this study show a rich complex of parasitoidsthat naturally occurs in association withP.o l e a e , causing high mortality rates, and highlight the importance of these beneficial parasitesin the control of this pest.