Do You Know What Thakos Is?

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Have you ever heard of Thakos?
If you’ve walked through olive groves in Greece, especially during the summer, chances are the name has come up in conversation. But what exactly is it?

What Is Thakos?

Thakos (Greek: Θάκος) is a common Greek term used to describe a pest that attacks olive trees. In English, it refers to the olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae), a tiny insect that causes serious damage to olive crops.

How Damaging Is It?
Very. The olive fruit fly lays its eggs inside the olive fruit. When the larvae hatch, they feed on the olive flesh, making tunnels and reducing both the quantity and the quality of the oil. In some cases, a severe infestation can ruin a harvest completely.

How Do We Know We Have Thakos?
Farmers usually notice small puncture marks on the olives. Sometimes there’s a little brown spot or even softening around the area. If you open the olive, you may find the tiny larva inside.
In modern farming, we also use pheromone traps and inspections to detect early signs.

What Do We Do When We Have It?

There are several ways to manage Thakos:

          Traps (pheromone or food-based) to catch adult flies

          Biological methods, like introducing natural predators

          Careful timing of harvest—picking earlier can reduce exposure

          Spraying, but only when necessary and with approved organic or low-residue                      treatments if aiming for organic certification

Are There Any Benefits from Thakos?
Believe it or not—in small numbers, some old-school farmers say that the early bite from Thakos triggers the olive tree to produce more polyphenols as a defense mechanism. That can lead to more antioxidants in the oil.
However, this is risky business—most producers try to avoid Thakos altogether, as too much damage ruins both the yield and the taste.

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At Yiotis Olive Farm, we monitor for Thakos every year with the help of local agronomists. Our single-farm production gives us control over every step—protecting our olives naturally, responsibly, and with care.

👉 Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes stories from our trees and soil!