The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): a short review, with recent findings and future research directions

Abstract

Th e coff ee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), is the most devastating insect pest of coff ee throughout the world. Adult females bore a hole in the coff ee berry, where they deposit their eggs; upon hatching, larvae feed on the coff ee seeds inside the berry, thus reducing yield and quality of the marketable product. Th e insect spends most of its life inside the coff ee berry, making it extremely diffi cult to control. Th is paper presents a short review of the literature dealing with natural enemies of the coff ee berry borer, on the possible use of fungal endophytes as a biocontrol strategy, and on factors that might be involved in attracting the insect towards the coff ee plant. Th e paper identifi es some areas where research eff orts should be focused to increase the chances of successfully developing an eff ective pest management strategy against the coff ee berry borer.

The coffee berry borer: the centenary of a biological invasion in Brazil

“…2 mm long beetle is the most devastating insect pest of coffee worldwide. The insect spends most of its life cycle concealed inside the coffee berry, making it quite difficult to control (Vega et al, 2009). Females bore into the berry and oviposit in galleries within the seed; total progeny can reach up to 300 individuals within a single berry .…”

“…In Brazil alone, this insect causes losses estimated at $215-358 million annually (Oliveira et al, 2013). Subsequent to its introduction to Brazil, the insect has invaded all coffee-growing areas in the Americas and the Caribbean and has now been reported in nearly all coffee-producing countries worldwide (Vega et al, 2009). The term "invasive" that denotes the uncontrolled spread of an organism outside its native range, is well suited for the coffee berry borer, based on its widespread geographic distribution.…”

“…These data reveal the scant amount of scientific information published on an insect pest that directly affects 20 million coffee-growing families, equivalent to over 100 million people, in ca. 80 coffee-producing countries (Vega et al, 2009). In contrast, 1,654 peer-reviewed papers on another tropical invasive species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), were published in 22 years , equivalent to 75 peer-reviewed papers per year.…”

“…In contrast, 1,654 peer-reviewed papers on another tropical invasive species, the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), were published in 22 years , equivalent to 75 peer-reviewed papers per year. Approximately 31% of all coffee berry borer-related papers deal with biological control based on parasitoids and fungal entomopathogens, indicating the continued emphasis placed on these natural enemies even though their impact in reducing population levels has been variable (Vega et al, 2009). Similarly, the repeated attempts to trap the insect (3% of papers) using an ethanol-methanol attractant should not be considered an effective pest management option, bearing in mind that field populations of the coffee berry borer can reach 11 million individuals per hectare (Baker and Barrera, 1993) and that the total number of trapped insects has been reported at ca.…”

“…For example, there are promising underexplored research areas involving the development of coffee berry borer attractants and/or repellents that could lead to more effective pest management strategies (Vega et al, 2009). Similarly, a better understanding of the microbiota associated with the coffee berry borer might reveal novel pest management options, including interference with Wolbachia (an α-proteobacterium responsible for female-biased sex ratios) (Vega et al, 2002).…”