There are different types of olive tree diseases and pests of lesser or greater impact depending on different factors. The olive tree climate and other important aspects such as varietal resistance and the nutritional status of the olive tree, They influence the response of the olive tree to diseases.
The incidence of pests or diseases can affect the farmer in several ways:
Reduce the harvest.
Depreciate the value of the olive.
Harm the quality of olive oil obtained.
Weaken or even dry the olive trees.
The treatments and control measures should be designed to control insect populations and protect olive trees preventively against fungi.
The most harmful insect pests in olive growing are: Olive fruit fly, Prays and Black scale on olive tree.
Inside the Fungi: Olive peacock spot, Verticilosis and Anthracnose.
Bacteria: Olive knot disease and more recently Xylella fastidiosa.
Insects with secondary incidence in the olive tree: Borer, Glifodes, Olive bud mite, Euzophera pinguis, Violet scale, Euphyllura olivina, Otiorrinco, Arañuelo, Ceramida.
Within the secondary fungi we have: Plumbizo repilo, Bold, Sphaeropsis dalmatica, Leprosy and olive rot.
Nematodes: Meloidogyne incognita.
Olive trees can also be affected by weather and soil conditions (root asphyxiation).
For the control and treatment of different pests and diseases of the olive tree, it is essential, to know the biological cycle of pathogens.
Thus, we can know exactly the behavior of the plague and act at the time in which it is most sensitive.
Olive cultivation requires multiple knowledge. These are necessary to effectively manage the multiple pests or natural enemies that the farmer faces.
olive pests,
olive diseases
Published articles on diseases are the result of efforts to simplify and improve understanding of the effects of pests on the olive grove. This information has been synthesized from various publications of national and international organizations. Always trying to provide the most accurate and truthful information possible.
NOTICE: The information presented here is of a general nature and may vary depending on multiple factors. It is advisable to receive advice from technicians and researchers from our cultivation area. This will help us in a more precise control of diseases and pests of the olive tree.
Using a good homemade repellent for deer is an economical way to scare away our exploitation of these harmful animals. In addition to affecting deer, the repellent that we will see will allow us to keep other mammals at bay( deer, ibex, sheep, wild boars, rabbits…). The damage that deer can cause in farms is … Read moreHomemade deer repellent
Various causes can lead to the appearance of yellow leaves on olive tree. Old age, repilo, anthracnose, deficiencies, toxicity… Although the olive tree diseases are the main reason for the yellow and dry leaves, There are different causes that can affect the olive leaves. Leaves infected by repilo The repilo del olivo and the lead … Read moreYellow leaves on olive tree
The best fertilizer for the olive tree foliar fertilization will depend on the time of application of the treatment, mineral deficiencies found… It must be adjusted to the nutritional requirements of the olive tree and its demand throughout the year. To increase the contact time of the fertilizer with the leaves of the olive tree, it … Read moreOlive tree foliar fertilization
The placement of hundreds of homemade olive fruit fly traps is the best solution the one available to organic olive farmers to control the olive fly. In this publication, we will show you everything you need to know about olive fly traps: when to put them, how to do them, attractants used… Currently, mass trapping is … Read moreOlive fruit fly traps. Learn to make them!
The olive cultivation faces different pests and diseases. The professional farmer must learn to identify the causes of various olive tree diseases. The preventive control and the application of selective treatments against olive tree pests will help us keep our productive and healthy olive. Although the total eradication of pests and diseases of the olive … Read moreOlive tree diseases and pests
The gill nematode or grilles (Meloidogyne incognita), is a plague of low impact in the traditional olive grove, thanks to the rusticity of the olive tree. The olive tree nurseries and the new plantations of olive groves on crops previous tobacco, cotton, sunflower… may have problems, being necessary to monitor the infections of Meloidogyne incognita. Symptoms … Read moreMeloidogyne incognita
The olive leaf moth (Palpita unionalis Hübner, 1796), is a lepidoptera cataloged within the secondary pests of the olive tree (Euzophera, Borer, Bud Mite, violet scale, Otiorrinco, Ceramida…) The damage of olive leaf moth is due to the fact that it feeds during its larval state from the tender shoots of the olive. Characteristics of … Read morePalpita unionalis (olive leaf moth)
Glyphosate herbicide is currently the best-selling herbicide in the world. Monsanto had the patent until 2000 when it expired and became public domain. Because there is no patent, this product is generic and can be produced by any chemical company. Due to this, there is a lot of competition and its price is very economical compared … Read moreGlyphosate herbicide
The olive leaf spot, also known as leaded olive is caused by the fungus (Pseudocercospora cladosporioides Braun 1993). It affects the vigor of the olive tree by damaging the leaves and causing its premature fall to the ground. The most accepted name of the fungus causing olive leaf spot is Pseudocercospora cladosporioides. However, publications with the … Read morePseudocercospora cladosporioides (olive leaf spot)
Otiorrinco or beetle of the olive tree (otiorhynchus cribricollis gyllenhaal, 1834), It is a secondary pest with little impact on the traditional olive grove. However, in young olive groves and intensive plantations can cause damage of some consideration. Therefore, in these cases, control is necessary when there are important populations of the olive beetle. This … Read moreOtiorhynchus cribricollis
Various fungi cause olive rot, the best known for their incidence are the soapy olive (Colletotrichum), Leprosy (Phlyctema wanderer) and the olive fruit root (Dalmatian Sphaeropsis). Other fungi that are considered secondary pathogens and even fungi saprophytes penetrate the olives that have been damaged. Spreading fungi reduces fatty performance and get worse the quality of … Read moreOlive rot
Liothrips oleae Costa, popularly known as olive spider, Liothrips oleae Costa, belongs to the order of the tisanópteros (small neoptera insects). Its incidence is usually small and is considered a secondary pest of the olive grove. The insect is also called black louse, due to its dark color and small size. The plague was identified … Read moreLiothrips oleae Costa
The olive leprosy is caused by infections of the fungus Phlyctema vagabunda (Previously known as Gloeosporium olivae Foschi, 1955). This pest is of a secondary nature and is usually controlled by fungicidal applications that are made to control the olive peacock spot. There are pests of greater economic impact on which the farmer should focus … Read moreOlive leprosy (Phlyctema vagabunda)
The olive tree climate requirements, significantly influences in the productive development of a particular olive variety. Type of exploitation of cultivation: traditional, intensive olive grove, super high density in hedge … The olive grove of intensive surface (7×7, 7×6, 6×5 meters) is suitable in fresh dry areas or with the possibility of irrigation. However, in … Read moreOlive tree climate
The olive bud mite, also known as erinosis is produced by at least four species of erythroids. Within the mites (Acarina) of the Eriophydae family we can find in the olive tree the following species: Aceria oleae (Nalepa, 1900) Aculus olearius, Ditrymacus athiasellus and Oxycenus maxwelli. Similar in appearance, they have vermiform shape with a … Read moreOlive bud mite (Oxycenus maxwelli)
Olive fruit rot is the damage caused by the fungus Camarosporium dalmaticum (Thüm. 1979) or Sphaeropsis dalmatica in olives. It is spread throughout several Mediterranean countries. Its incidence is usually reduced and unimportant except for certain greening farms. Damage caused by the olive grove The olive fruit rot exclusively affects the fruit without affecting the vegetative state of the … Read moreOlive fruit rot (Sphaeropsis dalmatica)
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum sp) is a olive disease of increasing importance in the Spanish olive grove. It is produced by fungi Colletotrichum acutatum and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Initially it only affected olives, but currently fungi produce a toxin that weakens the olive trees by drying the affected branches. It is in the rainy autumn when the fungus has … Read moreAnthracnose in olives (Colletotrichum sp)
It is a secondary level pest in the olive grove, the violet scale (Parlatoria oleae Colvée, 1880) is also known by the common name violet louse. Its presence does not usually present major problems, although in olive groves destined for greening, the application of control treatments may be necessary. His attacks are less frequent than … Read moreParlatoria oleae – Olive violet scale
Black scale in olive tree (Saissetia oleae Olivier, 1791), is one of the most important pests in the olive grove. Saissetia oleae, is also commonly known for tizne mealybug or carapace. Like the Prays and the olive fruit fly, the black scale can cause significant damage. In addition to the olive tree, citrus fruits (orange, … Read moreBlack Scale on olive tree (Saissetia oleae)
The sooty mould is one of the diseases or pests that can suffer the olive tree. In Spain this disease is also commonly known as tizne or fumagina. The sooty mould is the cause of the performance of several fungi, among which the genera Capnodium spp and Limacinula spp. Together with these, the saprophytes Aureobasidium … Read moreSooty Mould in olive tree
Coleoptera of the family Scarabaeidae scientifically known as Ceramida spp (Melolontha papposa Illiger, 1803). Commonly called white grub of olive tree, its larva is very large and feeds on the roots of the olive tree. Stages of development Egg: it is colored white and has a size of 1.5×1.8 mm being shaped almost spherical . … Read moreCeramida (Melolontha papposa)
Olive tree root asphyxiation can be a major problem in heavy and wetlands ground. The olive tree is a tree adapted to conditions of extreme drought, being able to produce on arid terrain. However, the excess moisture in the soil, far from producing benefits, can end up suffocating the roots of the olive tree. These … Read moreOlive tree root asphyxiation
The plague called olive tree borer, it is formed by two species of insects polyphagous beetles of the Curculionidae family. Hylesinus Oleiperda (Fabricius, 1792), commonly called black borer and Phloeotribus Scarabaeoides (Bern, 1788). The name “Borer“, receives it by the form of the perforations that it realizes in the wood, similar to a hole. Damages … Read moreOlive tree borer
Olive tree tuberculosis or knot, is one of the diseases of the olive tree. Warts that appear in olive trees are caused by the infection of the bacteria Pseudomonas savastanoi (Janse, 1982) or pv. savastanoi. The applications of certain treatments and olive care can help disease control. However, current products only help eliminate olive knot … Read moreOlive knot disease (Pseudomonas savastanoi)
Olive peacock spot, bird’s eye spot or olive leaf spot (Cycloconium oleaginum (Castagne 1845)) is probably the most serious disease that affects the olive grove. Although there are effective treatments and some olive varieties have certain resistance, its incidence has an important impact on the productivity of the olive tree. In Italy the disease is known as Occhio … Read moreOlive peacock spot (Cycloconium oleaginum)
The olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae Rossi, 1790) is one of the most relevant pests of the olive grove. The use of traps and the application of treatments for the control of the olive fruit fly is frequent in the Spanish olive grove. It is one of the primary pests next to the Prays and … Read moreOlive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae)
The olive psyllid, is a secondary pest that can be found frequently in the olive grove. It is an insect hemiptero of the family Psyllidae, with scientific name Euphyllura olivina Costa, 1839. Although he is not pleased to find psyllid present in the olive tree, the farmer must focus on fighting pests or diseases of … Read moreOlive psyllid (Euphyllura olivina)
The olive prays (Prays oleae Bernard, 1788), is next to the fly and the black scale one of the three phytophagous pests more harmful to the olive tree. Also known as olive moth, prays is a plague synchronized to perfection with the biological cycle of the olive. It has three annual generations, the Phyllophagous (feeds … Read moreOlive moth (Prays oleae)