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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #343687
Research Project: Develop Pest Management Technologies and Strategies to Control the Coffee Berry Borer

Location: Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory

Title: A repellent against the coffee berry borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Author
item Vega, Fernando
item Simpkins, Ann
item MIRANDA, JOSE - Consultant
item Harnly, James - Jim
item INFANTE, FRANCISCO - Colegio De La Frontera
item CASTILLO, ALFREDO - Colegio De La Frontera
item WAKARCHUK, DAVID - Synergy Semiochemicals Corp
item Cosse, Allard

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2017
Publication Date: 12/23/2017
Citation: 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.

Interpretive Summary: The coffee berry borer is the most devastating pest of coffee throughout the world and causes millions of dollars in losses each year. Increased knowledge on the basic biology of the coffee berry borer can result in new insights on how to reduce damage caused by the insect, thereby increasing yields. In this paper we report on a chemical compound that is produced by coffee berry borer-infested coffee berries and that exhibits repellent effects against the insect in the laboratory and in the field. This information will be of use to coffee scientists, entomologists, ecologists, and the coffee industry.

Technical Abstract: The coffee berry borer continues to pose a formidable challenge to coffee growers worldwide. Due to the cryptic life habit of the insect inside coffee berries, effective pest management strategies have been difficult to develop. A sesquiterpene, (E,E)-a-farnesene, produced by infested coffee berries has been identified as a coffee berry borer repellent both in laboratory and field bioassays. A field experiment in Hawaii resulted in up to 80% decreased coffee berry borer captures in traps containing the attractant and a bubble cap formulation of the repellent compared to traps with just the attractant. The repellent effect was still active 19 weeks after installation. The easy to install bubble caps are a welcome contrast with other pest management strategies that require spraying. The placement of (E,E)-a-farnesene in bubble caps in coffee plantations when coffee berries first become susceptible to infestations (ca. 90 days post-flowering) might result in lower infestation levels throughout the season, and consequently, increased yields and profits.