Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Olive Fruit Fly (Bactrocera oleae) Populations in a Mediterranean Olive‐Growing Landscape: An Eight‐Year Study From Samos Island, Greece

Olive fruit fly ( Bactrocera oleae , Rossi) is one of the most significant pests in the Mediterranean olive groves, causing both quantitative and qualitative losses. Understanding its spatial and temporal dynamics is essential for effective and sustainable control of the pest. This study analyses an eight‐year dataset (2017–2024) of the olive fly populations on Samos Island, Greece, based on an extensive monitoring network of McPhail traps. Z ‐scores and kriging analysis were used to estimate population variability and identify spatial patterns at different elevation zones. The results show strong seasonal variations, a consistent difference between north and south, and clear variations from year to year. Populations peaked mainly in late summer and early autumn, with northern areas showing higher densities and southern areas showing lower densities. Findings demonstrate how long‐term monitoring combined with spatial statistics provides insights into the ecology of the olive fruit fly, supporting the optimisation of the control timing and the implementation of more targeted and environmentally sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.