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Title: DOES THE COFFEE BERRY BORER (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE) HAVE MUTUALISTIC FUNGI?

Author
item PEREZ, JEANNETH - EL COLEGIO DE LA, MEXICO
item INFANTE, FRANCISCO - EL COLEGIO DE LA, MEXICO
item Vega, Fernando

Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/9/2005
Publication Date: 7/15/2005
Citation: Perez, J., Infante, F., Vega, F.E. 2005. Does the coffee berry borer (coleoptera: scolytidae) have mutualistic fungi?. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 98:483-490

Interpretive Summary: The coffee berry borer is the most devastating pest of coffee throughout the world and is very difficult to control. We conducted laboratory experiments aimed at elucidating whether the coffee berry borer is associated with fungi that have beneficial effects on the insects, as has been suggested in the scientific literature. We found that none of the three fungi tested has any positive effects on the coffee berry borer. This information will be useful to other scientists studying the coffee berry borer.

Technical Abstract: All species in the family Scolytidae (Coleoptera) are apparently associated with fungi, and the relationships range from casual contact to mutualistic associations. In the case of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, it has been reported that a mutualistic relationship between this scolytid and the fungus Fusarium solani exists. In the present study we performed laboratory bioassays to determine if a mutualistic association exists between three species of fungi (Fusarium solani, Penicillium citrinum and Candida fermentati) and the coffee berry borer. The fungi were evaluated at three concentrations: 5x102; 5x104 and 5x106 spores/mL using coffee berries and meridic diets as substrate. Our results indicate that there were no clear positive effects of any fungi on the reproduction of the coffee berry borer either in berries or diets. Therefore, we conclude that H. hampei is not allied with fungi in mutualist relationships as was previously believed.