Toward low environmental impact control strategies: effects of copper and propolis on the Bactrocera oleae endosymbiont, Candidatus Erwinia dacicola

The effect of copper products and propolis on the endosymbiont of the olive fruit fly, Candidatus Erwinia dacicola was evaluated. Flies were exposed for six weeks to two different concentrations of copper (5% and 20%), propolis, and water as control. Oesophageal bulbs were extracted after the second and the sixth week of exposure, in order to have comparable results at two different times; also adult mortality was noticed. Real time PCR on samples showed a reduction from the first to the second extraction in Ca. E. dacicola content, both in propolis and copper treatments, comparing to the content in the control treatment, that did not show any change. Mortality in the adult population was higher in propolis comparing to other treatments.