A Beetle in a Haystack: Are There Alternate Hosts of the Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei) in Puerto Rico?

Can the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei, or CBB) use host plants other than coffee for food and shelter? The use of fruits other than coffee has been reported. However, the validity of these reports depends on accurate identification of CBB, which is sometimes uncertain. In this study we sampled potential alternate hosts in coffee farms in Puerto Rico. Fruits with perforations were collected and examined for the presence of scolytid beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Scolytids were identified by morphology and DNA barcoding of the COI gene. Association between the presence of Inga vera and Guarea guidonia trees and infestation rate of CBB in coffee fruits was evaluated. Food preference tests were performed in the laboratory. A total of 3563 beetles were found and 587 were identified as Hypothenemus spp.; of these, 85 identifications were confirmed by DNA barcoding. Twenty-seven of the beetles identified were H. hampei, mostly in I. vera fruits in periods between coffee crops. Most scolytids identified were H. obscurus. In preference tests, some CBB initially penetrated G. guidonia fruits, but eventually chose coffee. There was no evidence of feeding or reproduction in fruits of G. guidonia or Cajanus cajan. The results show that in Puerto Rico it is rare to find CBB in fruits of alternate hosts. The scarcity of coffee fruits in the off-season might cause some CBBs to take refuge in other fruits, but they did not feed or reproduce in them in laboratory tests. Understanding the refugia of CBB in the off-season may be useful for designing effective management strategies.

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Influence of bioclimatic variables on the distribution of coffee berry borer,Hypothenemus hampei(Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in coffee in Puerto Rico

10.1603/ice.2016.115651 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Jose M Garcia

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Hypothenemus Hampei ◽

Coffee Berry ◽

Coffee Berry Borer ◽

Bioclimatic Variables

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Sun vs. shade affects infestation, total population and sex ratio of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) in Puerto Rico

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2015.12.031 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 222 ◽

pp. 258-266 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Yobana A. Mariño ◽

Maria-Eglée Pérez ◽

Fernando Gallardo ◽

Marella Trifilio ◽

Michelle Cruz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Sex Ratio ◽

Total Population ◽

Hypothenemus Hampei ◽

Coffee Berry ◽

Coffee Berry Borer

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Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei), a Global Pest of Coffee: Perspectives from Historical and Recent Invasions, and Future Priorities

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects11120882 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 882

Author(s):

Melissa A. Johnson ◽

Claudia Patricia Ruiz-Diaz ◽

Nicholas C. Manoukis ◽

Jose Carlos Verle Rodrigues

Keyword(s):

Insect Pest ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Invasion Biology ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Future Research ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Hypothenemus Hampei ◽

Coffee Berry ◽

Management Options ◽

Coffee Berry Borer

Coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), CBB) has invaded nearly every coffee-producing country in the world, and it is commonly recognized as the most damaging insect pest of coffee. While research has been conducted on this pest in individual coffee-growing regions, new insights may be gained by comparing and contrasting patterns of invasion and response across its global distribution. In this review, we explore the existing literature and focus on common themes in the invasion biology of CBB by examining (1) how it was introduced into each particular region and the response to its invasion, (2) flight activity and infestation patterns, (3) economic impacts, and (4) management strategies. We highlight research conducted over the last ten years in Hawaii as a case study for the development and implementation of an effective integrated pest management (IPM) program for CBB, and also discuss biosecurity issues contributing to incursion and establishment. Potential areas for future research in each of the five major components of CBB IPM (monitoring and sampling, cultural, biological, chemical, and physical controls) are also presented. Finally, we emphasize that outreach efforts are crucial to the successful implementation of CBB IPM programs. Future research programs should strive to include coffee growers as much as possible to ensure that management options are feasible and cost-effective.

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Scientific note: The presence of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, in Puerto Rico: fact or fiction?

Journal of Insect Science ◽

10.1093/jis/2.1.13 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fernando E. Vega ◽

R. A. Franqui ◽

Pablo Benavides

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Hypothenemus Hampei ◽

Coffee Berry ◽

Coffee Berry Borer ◽

Scientific Note

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The Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus hampei) Invades Hawaii: Preliminary Investigations on Trap Response and Alternate Hosts

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects3030640 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 640-652 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Russell H. Messing

Keyword(s):

Hypothenemus Hampei ◽

Coffee Berry ◽

Coffee Berry Borer ◽

Alternate Hosts

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Local isolates of Beauveria bassiana for control of the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei in Puerto Rico: Virulence, efficacy and persistence

Biological Control ◽

10.1016/j.biocontrol.2021.104533 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 155 ◽

pp. 104533

Author(s):

Paul Bayman ◽

Yobana A. Mariño ◽

Noelia M. García-Rodríguez ◽

Omar F. Oduardo-Sierra ◽

Stephen A. Rehner

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Hypothenemus Hampei ◽

Coffee Berry ◽

Coffee Berry Borer

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Pathogens Causing Anthracnose and Fruit Rots of Coffee Associated with the Coffee Berry Borer and the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana in Puerto Rico

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-02-20-0057-r ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 110 (9) ◽

pp. 1541-1552 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Luz M. Serrato-Diaz ◽

Yobana A. Mariño ◽

Paul Bayman

Keyword(s):

Puerto Rico ◽

Beauveria Bassiana ◽

Fruit Rot ◽

Hypothenemus Hampei ◽

Coffee Berry ◽

Coffee Production ◽

Coffee Berry Borer ◽

Green Fruit ◽

Visible Growth ◽

Fungus Beauveria Bassiana

Fruit rots reduce coffee production worldwide. Eight Colletotrichum species have been reported to cause coffee fruit rots; the most important is C. kahawae, the cause of coffee berry disease (CBD) in Africa. It is unknown whether these fruit rot pathogens can be dispersed by the coffee berry borer (CBB, Hypothenemus hampei) or whether Beauveria bassiana (a natural enemy of CBB) might reduce coffee fruit rots. We identified pathogens causing coffee fruits rots in Puerto Rico and evaluated whether B. bassiana reduced fruit rot and whether CBB could disperse pathogens. A total of 2,333 coffee fruit with CBB damage were collected; of these, 1,197 had visible growth of B. bassiana. C. fructicola, C. siamense, C. theobromicola, and C. tropicale were isolated and identified from the fruit using morphological traits and phylogeny of three nuclear genes. All four species caused internal and external rot after inoculation of healthy green coffee fruit. Coffee fruit treated with B. bassiana had significantly less fruit rot than untreated fruit, suggesting B. bassiana can protect against fruit rot. To test whether B. bassiana had a protective effect, B. bassiana and Colletotrichum were coinoculated on coffee fruit. Fruit inoculated with both B. bassiana and Colletotrichum had significantly less rot than fruit inoculated with Colletotrichum alone. To test if CBBs dispersed the pathogens, CBBs were exposed to Colletotrichum conidia and placed on green fruit, which resulted in fruit rot. This study identifies new pathogens causing coffee fruit rot, shows that C. kahawae is not the only Colletotrichum that attacks green fruits, suggests a role for B. bassiana in disease management and demonstrates CBB can disperse the pathogens.

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