Determination of Distribution, Population Change, Infestation and Damage situation of Olive Moth, Prays oleae (Bernard) (Lepidoptera: Praydidae) Causing Damage in Olive Orchards

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine adult population change, infestation and damage rate of Prays oleae Bern. (Lepidoptera: Praydidae) generations which are in leaves, flowers and fruits. Studies were conducted in 30 olive orchards in the Dara village and Derik district of Mardin province in 2016–2017 in Turkey. Samples were collected from three different orchards containing at least 30–40 olive trees. Samplings were done weekly by pheromone traps, visual inspection and shoot methods. As a result of the study, it was determined that Olive moth was distributed in the village of Dara and districts of Derik and Nusaybin, but was not distributed in districts of Kiziltepe of Mardin province. The general infestation ratio of the pest was 73.33% and olive moth had three peak points in a year, such as in early May, second week of June and in early October in the Mardin province. It was found that it had three generations in a year and adults of the pest appeared from April to November in Mardin province. It was also determined that the damage rate of the pest was between 12–21% in leaf generations, 2–5% in flower generations, and between 0.8–5% in fruit generations based on the years and the orchards.