Integrating temperature-dependent development and reproduction models for predicting population growth of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari.

The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), is the most devastating insect pest of coffee worldwide. It feeds on the beans inside the berries leading to significant crop losses and unmarketable products. This study aims to model the impact of temperature on H. hampei fecundity and population growth parameters, as a contribution to the prediction of infestation risk. The fecundity was assessed on fresh coffee beans at six constant temperatures in the range 15-30°C, with RH 80 ± 5% and photoperiod 12:12 L:D. Nonlinear models were fitted to the relationship between fecundity and temperature using the ILCYM software. The best fecundity model was combined to development models obtained for immature stages in a previous study in order to simulate life table parameters at different constant temperatures. Females of H. hampei successfully oviposited in the temperature range 15-30°C, with the highest fecundity observed at 23°C (106.1 offspring per female). Polynomial function 8 model was the best fitted to the relationship between fecundity and temperature. With this model, the highest fecundity was estimated at 23°C, with 110 eggs per female. The simulated net reproductive rate (R0) was maximal at 24°C, with 50.08 daughters per female, while the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was the highest at 26°C, with a value of 0.069. Our results will help understand H. hampei population dynamics and develop an ecologically sound management strategy based on a better assessment of infestation risk.

Effect of pigeon pea intercropping or shading with leucaena plants on the occurrence of the coffee leaf miner and on its predation by wasps in organic coffee plantings / Efeito da consorciação com feijão-guandu ou sombreamento com plantas de leucena na ocorrência do Bicho-mineiro e sua predação por vespas em lavouras de café orgânico

ABSTRACT: The infestation of coffee leaf miner and its predation by wasps were assessed in commercial organic coffee plantings shaded with leucaena or intercropped with pigeon pea. Plantings in northern Paraná were assessed every two weeks from June 2011 to December 2012. The percent of infested leaves, number of mines per leaf and the percent of predation by wasps (indicated by lacerations) were determined. Fewer coffee leaf miners and fewer mines per leaf were found in pigeon pea intercropped plantings (28.4% and 0.3, respectively) than in shaded plantings with leucaena (48.1% and 0.8, respectively). More predation by wasps was found in the shaded (27.2%) than in the intercropped (13.2%) plantings. Suggestions for new studies are presented along with suggestions for managing the leaf miner in coffee plantings.

RESUMO: A infestação de bicho-mineiro e a sua predação por vespas foram avaliadas em lavouras comerciais de café orgânico sombreadas com leucena ou consorciadas com feijão guandu. As lavouras situadas na região Norte do Paraná foram avaliadas a cada duas semanas de junho de 2011 a dezembro de 2012. Determinou-se o percentual de folhas infestadas, o número de minas por folha e a porcentagem de predação por vespas (indicada pela laceração das minas). Menor infestação do Bicho-mineiro e o menor número de minas por folha foi verificada na lavoura consorciada com feijão guandu (28,4% e 0,3; respectivamente) em relação a lavoura sombreada com leucina (48,1% e 0,8; respectivamente). Maior predação por vespas foi verificada na lavoura sombreada (27,2%) em relação a lavoura consorciada (13,18%). Sugestões de novas pesquisas e para o manejo do bicho-mineiro em lavouras de café são apresentadas.

Can Coffee Chemical Compounds and Insecticidal Plants Be Harnessed for Control of Major Coffee Pests?

Pests and pathogens threaten coffee production worldwide and are difficult to control using conventional methods, such as insecticides. We review the literature on the chemistry of coffee, concentrating on compounds most commonly reported from Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. Differences in chemistry can distinguish coffee species and varieties, and plants grown under different biogeographic conditions exhibit different chemotypes. A number of chemical groups, such as alkaloids and caffeoylquinic acids, are known to be insecticidal, but most studies have investigated their effects on coffee quality and flavor. More research is required to bridge this gap in knowledge, so that coffee can be bred to be more resistant to pests. Furthermore, we report on some pesticidal plants that have been used for control of coffee pests. Locally sourced pesticidal plants have been underutilized and offer a sustainable alternative to conventional insecticides and could be used to augment breeding for resilience of coffee plants.

Testes em condições para o controle de Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley) (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) em cafeeiro com nematóides entomopatogênicos do gênero Heterorhabditis(Rhabditida, Heterorhabditidae) / Tests for the control of coffee root mealybug Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley) (Hemiptera, Pseudococcidae) with Heterorhabditis (Rhabditida, Heterorhabditidae)

Os nematóides entomopatogênicos (NEPs) apresentam potencial para o controle biológico de pragas e têm sido usados com sucesso, em vários países, no controle de pragas de solo e de ambientes crípticos, como a cochonilha-da-raiz-do-cafeeiro Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley). Testes de laboratório demonstram que estes agentes apresentam alta virulência sobre este inseto, no entanto, são necessários testes que avaliem a eficiência dos NEPs em condições de casa-de-vegetação e campo, sendo este o objetivo do presente trabalho. O experimento em condição de casa-de-vegetação para o controle da cochonilha foi realizado em vasos infestados, usando dois isolados do nematóide e dois métodos de aplicação (cadáver infectado e suspensão aquosa), conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualisado com cinco repetições. O experimento em condições de campo foi conduzido em blocos casualisados (6 blocos), para avaliar a eficiência de dois isolados heterorhabditídeos no controle da cochonilha-da-raiz-do-cafeeiro. Os resultados mostraram que, em casa-de-vegetação, o método de suspensão aquosa apresentou melhores resultados para os dois isolados, sendo que JPM3 aplicado em suspensão aquosa foi o melhor tratamento, apresentando eficiência de controle de 70 por cento. No experimento de campo, apenas o tratamento com o inseticida Actara 250 WG (thiamethoxam), usado como padrão de comparação, e JPM3, aplicado em suspensão aquosa, diferiram da testemunha, apresentando 81 e 65 por cento de eficiência de controle, respectivamente.

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have potential for biological pest control and have been successfully used in several countries in soil and cryptic pests control, as for example the coffee root mealybug Dysmicoccus texensis (Tinsley). Laboratory tests demonstrated that these agents are highly virulent to the insect, but semi-field and field tests are needed to determine their efficiency. Greenhouse tests were made in infested pots with two isolates and two application methods dead insect bodies and aqueous suspension in a complete randomized design with five replicates. Field tests were made in randomized plots (six plots) to evaluate six isolates of Heterorhabditis on coffee root for mealybug control. Greenhouse results demonstrate that aqueous suspension was more efficient for the two isolates, with 70 percent control efficiency for JPM3. In field experiments, treatments with aqueous suspensions of insecticide Actara 250 WG (thiamethoxam), used for comparison, and JPM3 were the only ones statistically different from control, with 81 and 65 percent control efficiency, respectively.