Using degree-day accumulations and host phenology for predicting larval emergence patterns of the olive psyllid, Euphyllura phillyreae

Abstract

The olive psyllid, Euphyllura phillyreae Foerster is one of the most destructive pests on buds and flowers of olive tree (Olea europaea L.) in May when the olive growers cannot apply any insecticides against the pest. Temperature-dependent development of the psyllid was studied at constant temperatures ranged 16-26 degrees C. A degree-day (DD) model was developed to predict the larval emergence using the weekly cumulative larval counts and daily mean temperatures. Linear regression analysis estimated a lower developmental threshold of 4.1 and 4.3 degrees C and a thermal constant of 164.17 and 466.13 DD for development of egg and larva, respectively. The cumulative larval counts of E. phillyreae approximated by probit transformation were plotted against time, expressed as the sum of DD above 4.3 degrees C, the starting date when the olive tree phenology was the period of flower cluster initiation. A linear model was used to describe the relationship of DDs and probit values of larval emergence patterns of E. phillyreae and predicted that 10, 50 and 95% emergence of the larvae required 235.81, 360.22 and 519.93 DD, respectively, with errors of 1-3 days compared to observed values. Based on biofix depends the development of olive tree phenology; the DD model can be used as a forecasting method for proper timing of insecticide applications against E. phillyreae larvae in olive groves.