Scientific name

Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari)

Common name

Coffee berry borer

Taxonomic position

Coleoptera: Scolytidae

Diagnosis

Adult dark pitchy brown to black, head hypognathous, completely hidden by pronotum in dorsal view. Antenna short, elbowed with a distinct club. Pronotum hood-like / humped. Elytra striate with dense, erect, black setae.

Head, dorsal view  Head, ventral view  Antenna  Head - dorsal and ventral view; Antenna

Eggs elongate oval, translucent white laid inside ripe berries. Larvae creamy white, legless; bore into intact bean tissue. Pupae exarate.

Adult, dorsal view  Adult in lateral view Adult - dorsal and lateral view

Images

    Eggs of borer inside coffee berry
      Larva inside berry
     Pupa
     Adult beetle

Distribution

Major pest of coffee in Africa and South America. First reported in India in 1990. Accidentally introduced in India, probably through seeds brought by refugees from Sri Lanka or through illegally imported coffee seeds (Singh & Ballal, 1991). At present distributed in most of the coffee growing areas of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

Biology

Three parasitoids, namely, Cephalonomia stephanoderis (Betrem), Prorops nasuta Waterston, and Phymastichus coffea LaSalle, were introduced in India, of which only the first has established successfully in south India. The pest is managed by augmentative releases of C. stephanoderis in conjunction with use of other bioagents, particularly fungal pathogens like Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin.

References

  • Kumar, P.K.V., Prakasan, C.B. and Vijayalakshmi, C.K. 1990. Coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae): first record from India. Journal of Coffee Research, 20: 161-164.
  • Singh, S.P. & Ballal, C.R. 1991. Status of coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei (Ferr.)) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Technical Document No. 36, All India Coordinated Research Programme on Biological Control of crop pests and weeds, Bangalore. 6 p.
  • Singh, S.P. and Ramani, S. 1995. Coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Technical Bulletin No. 12, Project Directorate of Biological Control, Bangalore, India.