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Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei)

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A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Pest and Vector Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2023) | Viewed by 12779

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Juan F. Barrera

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Guest Editor

Department of Arthropod Ecology and Pest Management, El Colegio de La Frontera Sur, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km 2.5, Tapachula C.P. 30700, Chiapas, Mexico
Interests: coffee pests; pest management; biological control; natural enemies; pest sampling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Julio C. Rojas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Arthropod Ecology and Pest Management Group, Department of Agriculture, Society and Environment, El Colegio de La Frontera Sur, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto km 2.5, C.P. 30700, Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico
Interests: insect–plant interactions; chemical ecology; insect behavior; pest management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The coffee berry borer (CBB, Hypothenemus hampei) is the most important insect pest of coffee worldwide. Native to Africa, CBB is present in almost all coffee-producing countries. This insect perforates the coffee berries (Coffea spp.) and feeds and reproduces inside the seeds or beans, causing a reduction in yield and a deterioration in quality. It has been estimated that this pest causes annual losses of USD 500 million. Farmers with limited economic resources are the most affected by CBB and their damage is expected to intensify with climate change.

Control of the coffee berry borer (CBB, Hypothenemus hampei) is complicated due to its small size (<2.0 mm) and cryptic lifestyle. Therefore, the research challenge is to find economically viable, environmentally safe, and socially accepted control methods. Moreover, the CBB has extraordinary and fascinating biology, behavior, and ecology that have been investigated worldwide for more than 100 years. However, there are still many research gaps in the knowledge regarding the history of this insect. Undoubtedly, conventional and modern techniques and novel research approaches will help to clarify many of the unknown biological, behavioral, and ecological aspects of this small but harmful insect of coffee cultivation and, eventually, provide the information that is essential for its management.

This Special Issue aims to publish original scientific research articles on various aspects related to the biology, ecology, and management of CBB. These topics are covered by the scope of the journal Insects. The types of submitted manuscripts may be reviews, original research papers, or scientific communications. The topics of the submitted manuscripts may be laboratory or field experimental research that provides new information on CBB morphology, genetics, and physiology; interactions with host plants and shade; chemical ecology; reproductive diapause; microbial ecology; multitrophic interactions; natural enemies; effect of micro and macroclimatic factors and climate change; sampling, modeling, and simulation; landscape ecology; pest control methods; and knowledge and perceptions of farmers, among other related aspects.

Dr. Juan F. Barrera
Dr. Julio C. Rojas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

morphology and physiology
genetics
microbial ecology
host–plant interactions and shade
chemical ecology
biological control
tritrophic interactions
pest management
climate change
modelling and simulation

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Microclimate on the Mass Emergence of Hypothenemus hampei in Coffee Grown under Shade of Trees and in Full Sun Exposure

by Valentina García-Méndez, Rebeca González-Gómez, Jorge Toledo, Javier Francisco Valle-Mora and Juan F. Barrera

Insects 2024, 15(2), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15020124 - 9 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1008

Abstract

The rainfall regime has a significant impact on the microclimate and mass emergence of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (CBB). Little is known, however, about the shade tree–microclimate–CBB mass emergence interaction. The objective of the present study was to compare the effect of microclimate on the mass emergence of CBB in a full sun-exposed plot with a plot shaded by trees. The experiment was conducted on a Robusta coffee farm in southern Chiapas, Mexico. In each plot, 18 traps baited with an alcohol mixture were installed to capture flying females, collecting caught individuals every hour from 8:00 to 18:00 h. A meteorological station recorded several microclimatic variables on 13 weekly sampling dates from February to May 2022. Significantly more CBB females were captured in the shaded plot. The largest number of CBB captures was recorded between 14:00 and 16:00 h for the shade plot and between 15:00 and 17:00 h for the sun-exposed plot. The mass emergence of CBB showed a positive association with precipitation, dew point, and wind speed samples and a negative association with maximum air temperature, average relative humidity, ultraviolet radiation, wind speed, and equilibrium moisture content. Our observations show that the relationship between shade trees, microclimate, and mass emergence of CBB is complex and that its study helps us to gain deeper insight into CBB bioecology and advance control techniques against this important pest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei))

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Graphical abstract

15 pages, 1677 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Naturally Occurring Vegetation Connectivity Facilitates Ant-Mediated Coffee Berry Borer Removal

by Sanya Cowal, Jonathan R. Morris, Estelí Jiménez-Soto and Stacy M. Philpott

Insects 2023, 14(11), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14110869 - 10 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1134

Abstract

Vegetation connectivity is an essential aspect of the habitat complexity that impacts species interactions at local scales. However, agricultural intensification reduces connectivity in agroforestry systems, including coffee agroecosystems, which may hinder the movement of natural enemies and reduce the ecosystem services that they provide. Ants play an important role in regulating the coffee berry borer (CBB), which is the most damaging coffee pest. For arboreal ant communities, the connections between trees are important structures that facilitate ant mobility, resource recruitment, foraging success, and pest control ability. To better understand how connectivity impacts arboreal ants in coffee agroecosystems, we conducted an experiment to assess the impact of artificial (string) and naturally occurring vegetation (vines, leaves, branches) connectivity on Azteca sericeasur behavior on coffee plants. We compared ant activity, resource recruitment, and CBB removal rates across three connectivity treatments connecting coffee plants to A. sericeasur nest trees: vegetation connectivity, string, and control (not connected) treatments. We found higher rates of ant activity, resource recruitment, and CBB removal on plants with naturally occurring vegetation connections to A. sericeasur nest trees. Artificial connectivity (string) increased the rates of resource recruitment and CBB removal but to a lesser extent than vegetation connectivity. Moreover, vegetation connectivity buffered reductions in ant activity with distance from the ant nest tree. These results reinforce how habitat complexity in the form of vegetation connectivity impacts interspecific interactions at the local scale. Our results also suggest that leaving some degree of vegetation connectivity between coffee plants and shade trees can promote ant-mediated biological pest control in coffee systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei))

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19 pages, 63090 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Pilot Testing of an Area-Wide Biological Control Strategy against the Coffee Berry Borer in Colombia Using African Parasitoids

by Pablo Benavides, Zulma Nancy Gil, Luis Eduardo Escobar, Lucio Navarro-Escalante, Peter Follett and Hilda Diaz-Soltero

Insects 2023, 14(11), 865; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14110865 - 9 Nov 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1072

Abstract

The coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari, 1867) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), native to Africa, is a major global insect pest of coffee. It has invaded many coffee production areas around the world that do not have natural enemies. In this study, two African parasitoids, Prorops nasuta Waterston (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) and Phymastichus coffea Waterston (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), were mass-reared for field release against H. hampei in Chinchiná, Colombia. More than 1.5 million wasps of each species were released on a 61-hectare coffee farm in replicated plots, resulting in parasitism rates of up to 7.7% for P. nasuta and 56.3% for P. coffea. This led to a maximum reduction in H. hampei field populations of 81% from dispersal coffee plots (old coffee crops before plant stumping) and 64.3% in colonization coffee plots (new coffee crops with active growing and fruiting plants) within the farm. As a result of this area-wide strategy, the percentage of CBB-infested coffee berries in colonization coffee plots decreased from 51.1 to 77.5% compared to coffee plots without parasitoid releases. This approach offers a promising alternative to the use of chemical insecticides and could be integrated into current pest management programs to control H. hampei. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei))

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13 pages, 1811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Activity and Infestation in the High Mountain and Blue Mountain Regions of Jamaica

by Ameka Myrie, Tannice Hall, Denneko Luke, Bhaskar Rao Chinthapalli, Paula Tennant and Dwight Robinson

Insects 2023, 14(8), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14080694 - 5 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1286

Abstract

Jamaica produces coffee marketed as Blue Mountain and high mountain (grown outside the Blue Mountains). Since the discovery of the coffee berry borer (CBB; Hypothenemus hampei) in Jamaica in 1978, chemical control has traditionally been the primary approach used to protect the crop from the pest. However, in the last 20 years, there has been an effort to shift towards more sustainable management strategies. The study was conducted to determine CBB activity (trap catch) and field infestation on coffee farms in the high mountains and Blue Mountains of Jamaica, over a crop cycle. A total of 27,929 and 12,921 CBBs were captured at high mountain and Blue Mountain farms, respectively. Peak CBB activity occurred in April in the high mountain region (365 CBBs/trap/month) and February in the Blue Mountain region (129 CBBs/trap/month). The highest levels of infestation were in November (33%) and October (34%) in the high mountain region and Blue Mountain region, respectively. There was no significant difference in the patterns of CBB activity and infestation between the study locations, and neither were related to the temperature or relative humidity. However, there was a significant relationship with rainfall. These data suggest that the population dynamics of the CBB may involve complex interactions among weather conditions, berry development, and agronomic practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei))

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20 pages, 3052 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mathematical Model for the Biological Control of the Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus hampei through Ant Predation

by Carlos Andrés Trujillo-Salazar, Gerard Olivar-Tost and Deissy Milena Sotelo-Castelblanco

Insects 2023, 14(8), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14080675 - 29 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1033

Abstract

Coffee is a relevant agricultural product in the global economy, with the amount and quality of the bean being seriously affected by the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), CBB, its principal pest. One of the ways to deal with this beetle is through biological control agents, like ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), some of which are characterized by naturally inhabiting coffee plantations and feeding on CBB in all their life stages. Our paper considers a predator–prey interaction between these two insects through a novel mathematical model based on ordinary differential equations, where the state variables correspond to adult CBBs, immature CBBs, and ants from one species, without specifying whether preying on the CBB is among their feeding habits, in both adult and immature stages. Through this new mathematical model, we could qualitatively predict the different dynamics present in the system as some meaningful parameters were varied, filling the existing gap in the literature and envisioning ways to manage pests. Mathematically, the system’s equilibrium points were determined, and its stability was studied through qualitative theory. Bifurcation theory and numerical simulations were applied to illustrate the stability of the results, which were interpreted as conditions of the coexistence of the species, as well as conditions for eradicating the pest, at least theoretically, through biocontrol action in combination with other actions focused on eliminating only adult CBBs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei))

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19 pages, 2047 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Temperature-Dependent Biology and Population Performances of the Coffee Berry Borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) on Artificial Diet

by Shao-Hua Wei, Liang-Jong Wang and Ming-Ying Lin

Insects 2023, 14(6), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14060499 - 29 May 2023

Viewed by 984

Abstract

At different observation intervals of 1, 5, and 10 days during a trial period of 30 days, the mortality rates of Hypothenemus hampei were 100, 95, and 55%, and the fecundity rates were 0.55, 8.45, and 19.35 eggs/female, respectively. At temperatures of 18, 21, 24, and 27 °C, the development time of the immature stage of H. hampei was significantly shortened with increasing temperature. Furthermore, the lower developmental threshold (T₀) and thermal summation (K) of the immature stage were 8.91 °C and 485.44 degree-days, respectively. The greatest longevity of female and male adults reached 115.77 and 26.50 days, respectively, at 18 °C. The highest fecundity was 29.00 eggs/female at 24 °C. The population parameters of H. hampei were analyzed on the basis of the age–stage, two-sex life table theory. According to the data, the parameters were significantly affected by temperature. The highest net reproductive rate (R₀) was 13.32 eggs/individual at 24 °C. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) were calculated as 0.0401 and 1.0409 day⁻¹, respectively, at a temperature of 27 °C. The shortest mean generation time (T) was 51.34 days at 27 °C. Overall, we provide a discussion on comprehensive biological information regarding H. hampei, thus providing basic knowledge for further research on this pest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei))

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17 pages, 2986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Benefits from Managing Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei) in Hawaii

by Donna Lee, Melissa A. Johnson, Luis F. Aristizábal, Suzanne Shriner, Catherine Chan, Susan Miyasaka and Marisa Wall

Insects 2023, 14(4), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14040350 - 1 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1408

Abstract

Coffee berry borer (CBB) is considered the most damaging insect pest of coffee worldwide. CBB was first detected on Hawai‘i Island in 2010, and quickly spread throughout the state’s coffee-growing regions. With the introduction of this pest, Hawaii’s small yet economically important coffee industry was changed forever with growers facing significantly higher production and labor costs, as well as decreased yield and coffee quality. We assessed the economic benefits of managing CBB based on three strategies that emerged in Hawaii over the last decade: (1) the use of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana alone, (2) early integrated pest management (IPM), which combined monitoring and sanitation with spraying B. bassiana, and (3) research-based IPM, which focused on CBB biology in Hawaii, optimization of monitoring, B. bassiana applications, and cultural controls. From 2011 to 2021, the economic benefits from managing CBB were USD 52 million using B. bassiana alone, USD 69 million from early IPM, and USD 130 million from research-based IPM, for a total of USD 251 million from all management. Our findings suggest that all types of management provide economic benefits to Hawaii growers, but management strategies based on Hawaii-specific research have provided the greatest gains in coffee yield, price, and revenue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei))

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9 pages, 1702 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Field Efficacy of Spinetoram for the Management of Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei)

by Andrea Kawabata, Roxana Myers, Matthew Miyahira, Nicholas Yamauchi and Stuart T. Nakamoto

Insects 2023, 14(3), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14030287 - 15 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1523

Abstract

Coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, is a damaging insect pest of coffee worldwide. CBB has recently been introduced to Hawaii, so management techniques are still being developed for sustainable and cost-efficient approaches for the effective control of this pest. Field trials were conducted to evaluate the use of spinetoram on CBB infestation and bean damage compared to Beauveria bassiana and an untreated control. Initial CBB infestations were similar, and the treatments resulted in no detectable differences in subsequent new infestations. Damage to the coffee beans was reduced by both spinetoram and B. bassiana compared to controls as the mortality of adult beetles resulting from the treatments prevented them from moving into the bean (C/D position) from the berry (A/B position). The mortality of adult beetles also prevented reproduction, subsequently reducing future CBB populations in the field. When applied to infested berries, spinetoram reduced live beetle populations in the A/B position by 73% and CBBs in the C/D position by 70% compared to the water control, whereas applications of B. bassiana reduced beetles in the C/D position by 37% but had no effect on the live A/B population. An integrated pest management program is recommended for the effective control of CBBs, and the use of spinetoram applications when adult beetles are in the A/B position appears to have potential as another management tool. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei))

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Review

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27 pages, 3520 KiB

Open AccessReview

Establishing an Integrated Pest Management Program for Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei) in Hawaii and Puerto Rico Coffee Agroecosystems: Achievements and Challenges

by Luis F. Aristizábal, Melissa A. Johnson, Yobana A. Mariño, Paul Bayman and Mark G. Wright

Insects 2023, 14(7), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14070603 - 3 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2130

Abstract

Coffee berry borer (CBB) is the most serious insect pest of coffee worldwide, causing significant reductions in yield and quality. Following the introduction of CBB to Puerto Rico (2007) and Hawaii (2010), researchers, extension agents, industry representatives, and coffee growers have worked together to develop an integrated pest management (IPM) program that is both effective and economically feasible for each island. Since the introduction of the IPM program in Hawaii, research efforts have led to a better understanding of CBB population dynamics, as well as optimized monitoring, cultural practices, and commercial Beauveria bassiana applications. As a result of these efforts, a substantial reduction in average CBB infestation and an increase in coffee yields and quality have been documented in Hawaii over the last decade. However, significant challenges remain in addressing high production and labor costs, limited availability of labor, and a lack of training for field workers in both regions. Although considerable effort has gone into research to support CBB IPM in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, the adoption of these strategies by coffee farmers needs to be increased. More diversified methods of outreach and education are needed to reach growers in rural, isolated areas. Significant gaps exist in the ability and willingness of growers and workers to access and digest information online, emphasizing the importance of on-farm workshops and farmer-to-farmer teaching. Additional methods of training are needed to help coffee farmers and field workers learn how to properly conduct cultural controls and optimize the use of biological control agents such as B. bassiana. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei))

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