Coffee leaf damaging insects occurrence in the forest coffee ecosystem of southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Insects are diverse and abundant in forest ecosystems, but poorly documented in afromontane rainforests in Southwestern Ethiopia where Coffea arabica L. originated and is distributed worldwide. Therefore, the present study was initiated to study the occurrence of coffee leaf damaging insect pests in the afromontane rainforest of southwestern Ethiopia. Accordingly, surveys on insect pest of coffee were conducted to investigate pest status and; their damaging intensity in three (Yayu, Berhane-kontir and Bonga) forest coffee ecosystems. Based on general uniformity of forest coffee population, each forest coffee was stratified into three forest sites and 16 trees were systematically selected for leaf insect damage assessment. Survey and damage assessment results reveal that, coffee leaf damaging insect pests in afromontane rainforests of Southwestern Ethiopia include 12 insect families from five insect orders. Mean incidence data showed, significant different (P< 0.05) during different survey seasons within and between three forest coffee populations. Among the frequently occurred and damage causing insect pests were Leucoplema doherthyi, Cryphiomystis aletreuta, coffee giant looper and Leucoptera species and had 72.20 ± 1.42, 14.41 ± 5.15, 10.73 ± 4.30 and 2.63 ± 1.24 proportion damage across forest coffee populations, respectively. There is also high variation among major coffee leaf damaging insect during different seasons (rainy, rainy to dry transition, dry and dry to rainy season transition season). Generally, there were differences in insect pest incidence between and within forest coffee populations with regard to coffee leaf damaging insects and relatively low incidence observed compared to other coffee production systems. The present findings complement other research results meant for the conservation of remnant forest and its biodiversity especially to explore the natural enemies in these forest ecosystems.

Management intensity affects insect pests and natural pest control on Arabica coffee in its native range

“…In contrast, the coffee leaf skeletonizer had very similar infestation levels in the two seasons. While seasonal patterns of the serpentine miner, skeletonizer and free-feeding herbivory have not been described previously, our finding of higher densities of the coffee blotch miner in the wet season matches previous findings (Ababulgu, 2010;Abedeta et al, 2015). These patterns also match previous reports by Lomelí-Flores et al ( 2010) of higher abundances of the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella during the wet season in Mexico.…”

“…The coffee leaf skeletonizer Leucoplema dohertyi (Warren) [family Epiplemidae] has a free‐feeding larva that feeds on the underside of the leaf, and its damage is very distinct as it leaves behind the upper epidermis and veins (Figure 1d). Finally, there are several other free‐feeding insect species that feed on Arabica coffee, including several lepidopterans, slugs and snails (Figure 1e; Abedeta et al, 2015; Crowe, 2004). The coffee berry borer, the main insect pest on coffee berries in coffee growing regions in the world, is not common in this landscape (Mendesil et al, 2004).…”

The prevalence and impact of coffee arthropod pests in the gedeo indigenous agro forestry systems, Southern Ethiopia

“…There was no statistically significant difference in the damage of coffee plant by various pests (P>0.05) among studied coffee landraces and across the study sites though the highest severity level was recorded by coffee berry borer, H. hampei, which is the world"s worst coffee pest. Nonetheless, Chemeda et al (2015) reported significance differences in insect pest occurrence between and within forest coffee populations with regard to coffee leaf damaging insects. The following are important classes of pests addressed in the Gedeo Zone.…”

“…The current study investigated thirteen arthropod coffee pests in Gedeo enset-coffee based agroforestry system but Chemeda et al (2015) identified 12 insect families of five insect orders from afromontane rainforests in Southwestern Ethiopia where C. arabica L. has originated. There was no statistically significant difference in the damage of coffee plant by various pests (P>0.05) among studied coffee landraces and across the study sites though the highest severity level was recorded by coffee berry borer, H. hampei, which is the world"s worst coffee pest.…”

Status and Importance of Major Coffee Insect Pests in Major Coffee Growing Areas of Southern Ethiopia

“…This implies that the highest number of coffee farms was infested by coffee blotch miner as compare to skeletonizer and serpentine. Chemeda et al [3] reported significance differences in insect pest occurrence between and within forest coffee populations with regard to coffee leaf damaging insects. According to Fikadu et al [12] coffee skeletonizer and serpentine leaf miner were found as minor coffee insect pestsat Gedeo zone of Southern Ethiopia.…”