Seagate utilizes insect traps in order to keep the fly population under control. Unfortunately olive trees are susceptible to a variety of insect pests. At times, certain fly populations that can attack the trees, burrowing into the olives to both consume the fruit and lay their eggs can almost be out of control. First and foremost, we have learned that when plants and trees are not feed chemicals, especially the olive trees, they will be much more resistant to attack.
Since we do not spray the trees with any chemicals or pesticides, we have two methods of combating these insect attacks:
- As a preventative, we employ plastic traps that are baited with an attractant. The flies fly into the container and either cannot find their way out, or fall into the liquid on the bottom and drown, or they consume a a small amount of the mild poison in the trap and die inside the container.
2. In those few cases where the fly infestation is more severe, we use a mild spray of citric acid taken from orange and lemon peels. The citric acid is natural and non-toxic. However, the acid will eat through the hardened carapace of the fly and cause its immediate death. There is a commercial version of this citric-derived concentrate on the market which we use to control the ant population around our home organic vegetable garden called Citri Solv. Mix one to two tablespoons per gallon of water. Spray on ant trails leading into your house or vegetable garden. This should be sufficient to take care of these pests without contaminating your garden or home.
In order to keep our home garden, vegetable and fruit farms and trees healthy and resistant, we use our own Fish Fertilizer. Seagate uses sardines and anchovies to make the fertilizer.
However, I really prefer to swim with the fish and take their pictures. This fellow below is a Banded Butterfly Fish, also called the Four-Eyed banded Butterfly Fish. It is named for the dark spots on both sides of its body near its tail. This is a form of natural protection from predators who can be fooled into thinking that the tail is its head and the spots are its eyes. The predator fish would expect it to swim away in the opposite direction than it is really facing.
It is very common to see these fish swimming around Caribbean reefs in pairs, most likely these are mated pairs.
