The olive tree canopy is a habitat for phytophagous and predaceous Heteropteran specimens
whose biodiversity is important to be characterized. The aim of this world was to study the abundance
and diversity of Heteropteran specimens in Portuguese olive groves with different plant
protection systems (conventional. integrated protection and organic farming groves). Therefore,
data were obtained in olive groves located in the main olive Portuguese regions (Alto Alentejo and Trás-os-Montes). Sampling occurred in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003 and samples were obtained
through the beating technique, on a weekly or fortnight basis from March to November of each
year. The captured heteropteran specimens were identified to family level and, when possible, to
genera or species level. Experimental results showed that specimens belonged to six families that
were, for order of importance: Anthocoridae, Miridae. Lygaeidae, Tingidae, Penlalomidae and
Nabidae. Beneficial predaceous specimens like AntiJocoris sp. and Deraeocoris lutenscens
(Schilling, 1837) were the most abundant of the Anthocoridae and Miridae families, respectively.
These families were more abundant from the beginning to the middle of June which coincided with
the antophagou5 larval stage of the olive moth, Prays oleae (Bernard)
