Preliminary Field Trials on Enhancement of the role of Natural Enemies of Olive Pests in Egypt

• Feeby N. Nasr , Suzanne S. Stefanos, Sanaa S. Abou-Elkhair , Wagih A. Shehata , Ahmed I. Awad and Ali A. Youssef
• Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Station, El-Sabaheia , Alexandria , Egypt.

Abstract

The present work reports the results of preliminary field trials on the effect of creating vegetation islands with flowering plants, on the populations of beneficial insects associated with the olive agro-ecosystem, with emphasis to the natural enemies of olive pests. In an olive orchard at Paradise Park Plantation (177 Km south of Alexandria on the desert road), islands of flowering plants (2m X 2m) were cultivated alternatively between olive trees, in four rows. Six different treatments were considered : 1 - Uncovered soil as control, 2 - Summer Squash Cucurbita pepo , 3 - Radish , Raphanus sativus , 4 - Roquette, Eruka sativa, 5 - Turnip , Brassica rapa , and 6 - Wild groundsel , Senecio vulgaris. Occurrence of important groups of beneficial insects , was significantly increased in the vegetation islands in comparison to the uncovered soil , as it was shown by capture rates of yellow sticky traps, as follows: 41.32% Hymenopterous parasitoids (Ichneumonidae, Chalcididae, Braconidae, Blasticotonidae , Pemphredonidae, Philanthidae, Tephidae & Chrysididae), 45.89% predators (Coccinellidae, Syrphidae, Anthocoridae & Chrysopidae) and 12.79% Hymenopterous pollinators (Andrenidae). Radish, Roquette and Squash, in addition to Wild groundsel were highly attractive to the most abundant natural enemies of olive pests, i.e. the Hymenopterous parasitoids and Coccinellid predators, as well as the pollinators. So, it can be recommended to olive growers to encourage inter-planting of such flowering plants between olive trees, to enhance the role of natural enemies.