Olive moth (Geometer)

The Olive Geometer (Abraxas pantaria) is a moth belonging to the Geometridae family, recognized as a specific pest of olive trees. Although not as famous as the olive moth (Prays oleae), this species can cause significant defoliation in olive groves across its native range.

The primary host plant for this insect is the olive tree (Olea europaea). The larvae feed voraciously on the foliage, and in cases of high population density, they can consume a large percentage of the leaf mass, hindering the tree's ability to store energy and produce fruit.

The life cycle involves four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult moth. The insects typically overwinter as pupae sheltered in the soil or in crevices of the tree bark. As temperatures rise in spring, the adult moths emerge, mate, and begin the cycle of egg-laying on the leaves of the host plants.

The damage caused by the larvae includes skeletonizing the leaves and consuming leaf edges. Aside from direct leaf tissue loss, their feeding activity can also extend to flower buds and young fruit, resulting in yield losses that impact the economic viability of commercial olive production.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is essential for controlling this moth. Strategies include:

• monitoring adult flight patterns using light or pheromone traps;
• applying biological insecticides like Bacillus thuringiensis when young larvae are active;
• maintaining healthy orchard conditions through proper pruning and irrigation to help trees recover from feeding stress.