Turkey expands natural pest control for olive and fruit crops

The Manisa Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry continues regular field inspections in the Akhisar and Gördes districts to monitor olive fly and Mediterranean fruit fly populations. Technicians use phenological observations and weekly trap catches to track pest density, enabling growers to apply timely treatments and reduce crop losses.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources reports significant progress in biological control programmes against the Asian citrus psyllid and cactus mealybug. Mass‑rearing facilities have released tens of thousands of Tamarixia radiata, Hyperaspis trifurcata and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, suppressing target pest populations by 85‑90 %. PCR testing of 178 citrus sites found no evidence of Huanglongbing disease, underscoring the effectiveness of the integrated approach.