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Bactrocera oleae pupae predation by Ocypus olens detected by molecular gut content analysis

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Abstract

The pupae of Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) complete their development during autumn and winter in the soil, rather than in the drupe, resulting susceptible to edaphic predators. Environmentally friendly methods to control this olive pest involve the identification of its natural enemies. This study evaluated the role of Ocypus olens (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) in the predation of B. oleae pupae, by means of molecular gut content analysis. Modified dry pitfall traps were used to collect live specimens from low-input olive orchards in Tuscany (Italy). Sampling was fine-tuned with a degree-day model estimating the presence of pest pupae in the soil. PCR analyses carried out on field-collected specimens demonstrated that O. olens is a predator of B. oleae, at least during autumn. These results are consistent with predictions of the degree-day model. Knowledge on species composition, traits and complementarity of the natural enemies of B. oleae pupae needs further investigation to advance conservation biological control strategies.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Diego Guidotti (AEDIT Srl) for the CDD model implementation and to Dr. Gionata Bocci for the botanical identification. We thank Dr. Le Li and Dr. Valerio Luconi for their valuable suggestions. We express particular acknowledgment and appreciation to landowners for allowing the access to their olive orchards and answering the questionnaires. This work has been realized with the financial support of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, PhD Programme in Agrobiodiversity. We thank the anonymous reviewers and the editor for their comments to improve our manuscript.

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  1. Alice Albertini

    Present address: Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Viale R. Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Viale R. Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy

    Susanna Marchi & Ruggero Petacchi

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 42, 40127, Bologna, Italy

    Claudio Ratti, Giovanni Burgio & Serena Magagnoli

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  1. Alice Albertini
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Correspondence to Alice Albertini.

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Albertini, A., Marchi, S., Ratti, C. et al. Bactrocera oleae pupae predation by Ocypus olens detected by molecular gut content analysis. BioControl 63, 227–239 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9860-6

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