How to Get Rid of Bugs in Olive Trees

Olive trees — Olea europaea — naturally occur in Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean region. These attractive trees bear feather-shaped, grayish-green foliage and distinctive gnarled branches. Small, creamy-white flowers give way to edible fruit. While olive trees have fewer pest problems than most other fruit trees, a few insects still affect these plants. Common olive tree bugs include olive fruit flies and olive psyllids.

Insect traps
Yeast tablets
Barrier film spray

Instructions

- 1
  Identify the type of bugs infesting your olive trees. Olive fruit flies reach about 1/4 inch in length and have brown bodies with yellow or white patches on their sides and tops. Olive psyllids are tan and pale green bugs that only reach about 2.5 mm in length.
- 2
  Use insect traps to get rid of olive fruit flies. The University of California recommends using a plastic or glass McPhail-type trap baited with yeast tablets and water. Hang and empty the trap according to the instructions on the product's label.
- 3
  Use a barrier film spray to treat infested olive trees. Look for sprays that contain the active ingredient called kaolin clay for the best results. Thoroughly spray the entire tree, including all the fruit. Be aware that barrier film sprays cover trees with a white residue that might temporarily ruin their ornamental value.
- 4
  Prune out the center limbs. This promotes healthy circulation, which reduces the risk of insect infestations. Pruning your olive trees is particularly helpful for controlling olive psyllids in hot climates.
- 5
  Clean up the area around your olive trees before, during and after harvest. Bugs often overwinter in the litter and lay eggs in the ripened fruit.

Hawthorns & Winter Berries

Oozing Black Spots at the Base of an Oak

Trees