Relationships between the olive fly and bacteria

Abstract

Abstract The relationship between the olive fly population and epiphytic bacteria of the olive tree was investigated by carrying out a 1‐year survey in the field. The olive fly population affected the number of bacteria present on the olive surface. Scanning electron microscope observations demonstrated that bacteria may be ingested by the fly’s mouth apparatus through the midline of the pseudotracheae. DNA amplification of the oesophageal bulb content using 16S bacteria universal primers and DNA sequencing evidenced that Candidatus Erwinia dacicola was the predominant species present. The role of bacteria in olive fly biology is discussed.