Flight Activity and Population Dynamics of the Olive Psylla, Eupyllura olivina Costa [Homoptera: Psyllaae] Infesting Ten Olive Cultivars in the Southern Highlands of West-Bank, Palestine

Abstract

This study was conducted in Al-Arroub agricultural experimental station, during 2013 season, to monitor the seasonal flight activity of the Eupyllura olivina [Homoptera: Psyllaae] in the southern highlands of Palestine using four sticky colored traps. The study also aims to evaluate the effect of olive cultivar on the population dynamics of olive psylla. Throughout this research, it was clear that flight activity as well as insect infestation by E. olivina began in early April and continued until the end of September with its peak of activity in mid of May. Results also confirmed that, the sticky yellow traps were more effecient in captuering E. olivina than other colored sticky traps. Moreover, variation in the susceptability of different olive cultivars was demonstrated among the ten examened olive cultivars.