Detection of predation on Euzophera pingüis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Abstract

Euzophera pingfüis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a secondary olive pest, which has increased in importance during recent years. In this study, more than 1300 predatory arthropods were collected from a Spanish olive orchard over two years and assayed using a pest-specific ELISA. Abundance and the percentage of positive responses to E. pingüis obtained using ELISA showed spiders to be the main predator, especially in 1998, when they accounted for 18% of the predation, followed by Scymnus suturalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Brachinotocoris ferreri (Heteroptéra: Miridae). Neuroptera and ants were less important as predators of E. pingüis.