Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei)

Symptoms

• Attack is more severe in robusta cultivars.
• The female beetle bores into the berries through the navel region and makes tunnels in the hard bean and lays eggs.
• The larvae feed on the beans.
• A typical pinhole at the tip of the berries indicates the presence of the pest, and it damages young as well as ripe berries.
• In case of severe infestation, 30 to 80% berries may be affected resulting in heavy crop loss.

Management

• Use proper cultural practices and maintain good hygiene to prevent the pest.
• Fumigate crop bags before sending them to estates to avoid spreading the infestation.
• Harvest coffee on time to reduce pest problems.
• Keep the right amount of shade and ensure good drainage in the fields.
• Dip infested berries in boiling water for 2-3 minutes to kill all stages of the pest inside.
• Dry coffee beans properly to stop beetles from breeding in stored coffee.
• Use traps like multiple funnel traps and pitfall traps to catch and kill adult beetles.
• Release beneficial insects like Cephalonomia stephendarix and Phymastichus coffea to control the pests naturally.
• Apply white muscardine fungus (Beauveria bassiana) to effectively reduce borer attacks.