Research Project: Develop Pest Management Technologies and Strategies to Control the Coffee Berry Borer

Location: Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Tropidogyne euthystyla sp. nov., a new small-flowered addition to the genus from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G.O., Chambers, K.L., Vega, F.E. 2021. Tropidogyne euthystyla sp. nov., a new small-flowered addition to the genus from mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber. Journal of Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 15:113–119.

Vulnerability of coffee (Coffea) genetic resources in the United States - (Literature Review)
Krishnan, S., Matsumoto Brower, T.K., Nagai, C., Falconer, J., Shriner, S., Long, J., Medrano, J., Vega, F.E. 2021. Vulnerability of coffee (Coffea) genetic resources in the United States. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-021-01217-1.

Cultivation and genome sequencing of bacteria isolated from the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), with emphasis on the role of caffeine degradation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E., Emche, S.E., Shao, J.Y., Simpkins, A., Summers, R., Mock, M., Ebert, D., Infante, F., Aoki, S., Maul, J.E. 2021. Cultivation and genome sequencing of bacteria isolated from the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), with emphasis on the role of caffeine degradation. Frontiers in Microbiology. 12:644768.

A new genus of Apsilocephalidae (Diptera) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2021. A new genus of Apsilocephalidae (Diptera) in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Biosis: Biological Systems. 2:1–7.

Jatoba gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Nogodinidae), a new genus of planthoppers from Dominican amber - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G., Vega, F.E., Stroinski, A. 2020. Jatoba gen. nov. (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Nogodinidae), a new genus of planthoppers from Dominican amber. Historical Biology. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1862107.

Entomopathogenic fungi (Hypocreales: Ophiocordycipitaceae) infecting bark lice (Psocoptera) in Dominican and Baltic amber - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E., Pionar, G. 2020. Entomopathogenic fungi (Hypocreales: Ophiocordycipitaceae) infecting bark lice (Psocoptera) in Dominican and Baltic amber. Mycology. 11:71–77.

Valviloculus pleristaminis gen. et sp. nov., a mid-Cretaceous amber flower related to families in the order Laurales - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G., Chambers, K.L., Iwaniec, U.T., Vega, F.E. 2020. Valviloculus pleristaminis gen. et sp. nov., a mid-Cretaceous amber flower related to families in the order Laurales. Journal of Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 14:359–366.

Richard Bradley’s “A Short Historical Account of Coffee” (1715) and “The Virtue and Use of Coffee” (1721) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E. 2021. Richard Bradley’s “A Short Historical Account of Coffee” (1715) and “The Virtue and Use of Coffee” (1721). Kew Bulletin. 2(3):1-14.

Draft genome of pseudomonas sp. Strain ces, containing the entire alkylxanthine gene cluster for caffeine breakdown - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Summers, R., Shao, J.Y., Mock, M., Yu, C., Vega, F.E. 2020. Draft genome of pseudomonas sp. Strain ces, containing the entire alkylxanthine gene cluster for caffeine breakdown. Microbiology Resource Announcements. https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.

Mid-Cretaceous coccoid (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in Burmese amber - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G., Vega, F.E., Schneider, S.A. 2020. Mid-Cretaceous coccoid (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) in Burmese amber. Zootaxa. 4810:511–522.

A lacewing bug, Paleoanomala aptenus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Tingidae), in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2020. A lacewing bug, Paleoanomala aptenus gen. et sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Tingidae), in mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber . Biosis: Biological Systems. 1(2):65–71.

Early growth phase and caffeine content response to recent and projected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide in coffee (Coffea arabica and C. canephora) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E., Ziska, L.H., Simpkins, A., Infante, F., Davis, A., Rivera, J., Barnaby, J.Y., Wolf, J.E. 2020. Early growth phase and caffeine content response to recent and projected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide in coffee (Coffea arabica and C. canephora). Scientific Reports. 10:5875.

A new genus of Empididae (Diptera) with enlarged basal flagellomeres in Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2020. A new genus of Empididae (Diptera) with enlarged basal flagellomeres in Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Historical Biology. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1743700.

Differential metabolic responses caused by the most important insect pest of coffee worldwide, the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Castro-Moretti, F.R., Cocuron, J., Vega, F.E., Alonso, A. 2020. Differential metabolic responses caused by the most important insect pest of coffee worldwide, the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 68:2597-2605.

Anatomical study of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) using micro-computed tomography - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Alba, A.I., Alba, T., Vega, F.E. 2019. Anatomical study of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) using micro-computed tomography. Scientific Reports. 9:17150.

Revealing the respiratory system of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei, Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) using micro-computed tomography - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Alba-Tercedor, J., Alba-Alejandre, I., Vega, F.E. 2019. Revealing the respiratory system of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei, Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) using micro-computed tomography. Scientific Reports. 9:17753.

Elucidation of hosts, native distribution, and habitat of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) using herbaria and other museum collections - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E., Smith, L., Davies, N., Goral, T., O'Sullivan, R., Moat, J., Davis, A. 2019. Elucidation of hosts, native distribution, and habitat of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) using herbaria and other museum collections. Frontiers in Plant Science. 10:1188.

Mid-Cretaceous cellular slime mold (Eukarya: Dictyostelia?) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2019. Mid-Cretaceous cellular slime mold (Eukarya: Dictyostelia?). Protist. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2019.1658095.

Ecology and evolution of insect-fungus mutualisms - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Biedermann, P.H., Vega, F.E. 2019. Ecology and evolution of insect-fungus mutualisms. Annual Review of Entomology. 65:431–455.

Poisonous setae structure on a Baltic amber caterpillar - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E., Poinar, G. 2019. Poisonous setae structure on a Baltic amber caterpillar. Arthropod Structure and Development. 51:37–40.

Did insects invent agriculture - (Proceedings)
Biedermann, P., Vega, F.E. 2019. Did insects invent agriculture. Proceedings of the Altenberg Workshop in Theoretical Biology. p. 11-13.

The Edward A. Steinhaus Index Cards Collection - (Literature Review)
Vega, F.E. 2019. The Edward A. Steinhaus Index Cards Collection. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 164:1-4.

Sterility of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), caused by the nematode Metaparasitylenchus hypothenemi (Tylenchidae: Allantonematidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Castillo, A., Martinez, F., Gomez, J., Cisneros, J., Vega, F.E. 2019. Sterility of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), caused by the nematode Metaparasitylenchus hypothenemi (Tylenchidae: Allantonematidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2019.1597336.

A mid-Cretaceous trichomycete, Priscadvena corymbiatus gen. et sp. nov., in Burmese amber - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2019. A mid-Cretaceous trichomycete, Priscadvena corymbiatus gen. et sp. nov., in Burmese amber. Fungal Biology. 123:393-396.

Observing the devastating coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) inside the coffee berry using micro-computerized tomography - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Alba-Alejandre, I., Alba-Tercedor, J., Vega, F.E. 2018. Observing the devastating coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) inside the coffee berry using micro-computerized tomography. Scientific Reports. 8:17033.

A mid-Cretaceous ambrosia fungus, Paleoambrosia entomophila gen. et sp. nov. (Ophiostomotales: Ophiostomataceae) in Burmese amber - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2018. A mid-Cretaceous ambrosia fungus, Paleoambrosia entomophila gen. et sp. nov. (Ophiostomotales: Ophiostomataceae) in Burmese amber. Fungal Biology. 122:1159-1162.

Micro-CT to document the coffee bean weevil, araecerus fasciculatus (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), inside field-collected coffee berries (Coffea canephora) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Alba-Alejandre, I., Alba-Tercedor, J., Vega, F.E. 2018. Micro-CT to document the coffee bean weevil, araecerus fasciculatus (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), inside field-collected coffee berries (Coffea canephora). Insects. 9(3):100.

Lives within lives: hidden fungal biodiversity within insects, mammals, mites, and plants - (Literature Review)
Blackwell, M., Vega, F.E. 2018. Lives within lives: hidden fungal biodiversity within insects, mammals, mites, and plants. Fungal Ecology. 35:127-134.

Probing the microbial - (Other)
Vega, F.E. 2018. Probing the microbial. Science. 360:972.

Micro-CT unveils the secret life of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei; Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae) inside coffee berries - (Proceedings)
Alba-Terecedor, J., Alba-Alejandre, I., Vega, F.E. 2018. Micro-CT unveils the secret life of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei; Coleoptera, Curculionidae: Scolytinae) inside coffee berries. Bruker Micro-CT User Meeting. 165-173.

The use of fungal entomopathogens as endophytes in biological control: a review - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E. 2018. The use of fungal entomopathogens as endophytes in biological control: a review. Mycologia. 110:4-30.

A repellent against the coffee berry borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E., Simpkins, A., Miranda, J., Harnly, J.M., Infante, F., Castillo, A., Wakarchuk, D., Cosse, A.A. 2017. A repellent against the coffee berry borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Journal of Insect Science. 17(6):122.

When insect endosymbionts and plant endophytes mediate biological control outcomes - (Literature Review)
Michaud, J.P., Pell, J.K., Vega, F.E. 2017. When insect endosymbionts and plant endophytes mediate biological control outcomes. Biological Control. 116:1-2.

Mouthpart structure and elemental composition of the mandibles in the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E., Bauchan, G.R., Infante, F., Davis, S. 2017. Mouthpart structure and elemental composition of the mandibles in the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 110:381-389.

Artificial diet sandwiches reveal sub-social behavior in the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Vega, F.E., Simpkins, A., Rodriguez-Soto, M.M., Infante, F., Biedermann, P.H. 2017. Artificial diet sandwiches reveal sub-social behavior in the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). Journal of Applied Entomology. 141:470-476.

Fungal endophytes in germinated seeds of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Parsa, S., Garcia-Lemos, A.M., Castillo, K., Ortiz, V., Braun, J., Vega, F.E. 2015. Fungal endophytes in germinated seeds of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris. Fungal Biology. 120:783-790.