An effective and sustainable management of B. oleae is a challenge, particularly in zones where high quality oil is pursued and environmental standards are practiced. The principal aim of this study was to evaluate the conditions and pest lifecycle as a first step for adapting Petacchi`s phenology dependent model (applied in Liguria), in Taranto province (South Italy). Four-year historical data (2015 - 2018), at the province level, were analyzed (infestation and agroclimate), and confronted with the data collected in a specific area in Maruggio. The degree-day of daily average temperature with the threshold of 9 °C (November - February) in South Italy resulted to be four times higher (~550), than in Liguria (~140). This indicates that the cumulative degree-day (CDD) model of Petacchi (379.
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01°C are needed for the simulation of the insect cycle, starting from October oviposition till the complete development), cannot be applied to our region. However, the period of the adult emergence based on the trap male catches complies with that of the model (middle of April). Analysis of collected data of juvenile form infestation showed an earlier attack, compared with the provincial database (at least 15 days). ANOVA test was used to evaluate the total infestation in the seven fields of the studied area. Statistical analysis indicated no significant difference between them (p-level = .43270), showing a relatively homogeneous infestation condition. The work will proceed by extending the infestation and weather data in the next seasons, to better analyse the relationships between temperature pattern and insect development in the winter.
