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Title: A predator of the coffee berry borer: is it present in your country?

Author
item Vega, Fernando
item JARAMILLO, JULIANNA - International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology

Submitted to: International Coffee Organization
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2010
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recently, the predatory thrips Karnyothrips flavipes (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) was reported in Kenya as a predator of coffee berry borer eggs and larvae. The 1-2 mm long thrips enters the hole bored by the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei; Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on the coffee berry, and deposits eggs inside, with adult thrips feeding on immature stages of the coffee berry borer. It is important for coffee-producing countries to initiate a search for K. flavipes, as it could become an important component in the arsenal of biological control strategies against the coffee berry borer.