Application of the augmentorium strategy for management of olive fruit fly and other olive pests: Potential and challenges

• Augmentoria could enhance biological control of olive fruit fly in IPM. • Parasitoid–host size differences support global use of optimized netting. • Efficient collection of infested fruit is critical for large-scale adoption. • Companion trees may serve as natural “living augmentoria” • Use of augmentoria may extend to controlling multiple olive pests. Sustainable agricultural practices and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can minimize reliance on synthetic pesticides by including environmentally friendly pest control strategies. A promising but overlooked example of such a strategy is the augmentorium, a tent-like structure designed to trap pests while allowing their natural enemies to escape and multiply. Augmentoria have been successfully deployed to control fruit flies in tropical crops and are particularly effective in small-scale farming due to their simplicity and low cost. Here we explore the potential of expanding the augmentorium strategy to olive production and management of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae , among other pests. We examine the biological and practical requirements for successful implementation, including the presence of effective natural enemies and integration into farming practices, and investigate size differences between B. oleae and its main parasitoids for optimal net design. Data indicate that the parasitoids present in different regions of olive production worldwide share a similar size difference with the olive fruit fly, suggesting that augmentoria would be applicable across regions. The biggest challenge to implementation may be harvesting infested olive fruits, which is time and labor intensive. We also propose a novel conceptual approach based on the use of companion trees in olive orchards as natural augmentoria, acting in concert with or as an alternative to creating and maintaining tent-like structures. We then discuss further application of the augmentorium strategy for other olive pests, highlighting its adaptability and potential for sustainable pest management across diverse systems. By complementing existing IPM strategies, augmentoria could enhance the effectiveness and persistence of natural enemies in the field.