This study was carried out to evaluate two biological methods for the control of Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) which is considered to be the most important pest species in Tunisia. Mass trapping through 14 traps (water and delta) baited with sex pheromone, and Trichogramma cacoeciae releases with two doses: 25,000 Trichogramma (T)/ha (D1) and 50,000 T/ha (D2) were tested separately. Field trials were conducted during 2016 in oases cultivated by date palm trees and pomegranates. In this experiment the infestation rates for delta traps, water traps and control were 17.6, 32.9 and 87.3%, respectively. Therefore, mass trapping with 14 delta traps was the most effective on pomegranate fruits. After inundative releases of T. cacoeciae (D1: 25,000 and D2: 50,000 T/ha), the results revealed an impact of this parasitoid in inhibiting carob moth eggs hatching, and a significant reduction of the infestation rate of pomegranate fruits between 19.1 and 22.7% for both doses compared to control plot with 87.3%. However, these trials (mass trapping and Trichogramma releases) applied on date palm trees were not sufficient to limit economic losses.

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