ARS | Publication request: Redirect research to control coffee pest

Submitted to: Nature
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: September 12, 2012
Publication Date: September 27, 2012
Citation: Infante, F., Perez, J., Vega, F.E. 2012. Redirect research to control coffee pest. Nature. 489:502.

Technical Abstract: One hundred years ago, one of the most significant biological invasions of an agricultural insect pest in the Americas was initiated. Endemic to Africa, the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei; Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was accidentally introduced to Brazil in 1913 and years later invaded coffee plantations throughout South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Even though over 1,600 coffee berry borer-related papers have been published since the early 1900’s, the insect still poses a considerable challenge to coffee production. Research areas such as the development of attractants and repellents, and the better understanding of the microbiota associated with the insect could result in the development of effective pest management strategies.