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Research Project: Develop Pest Management Technologies and Strategies to Control the Coffee Berry Borer

Location: Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory

Title: Elucidation of hosts, native distribution, and habitat of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) using herbaria and other museum collections

Author
item Vega, Fernando
item SMITH, LUCY - Royal Botanical Gardens
item DAVIES, NINA - Royal Botanical Gardens
item GORAL, THOMASZ - London Natural History Museum
item O'SULLIVAN, ROBERT - Royal Botanical Gardens
item MOAT, JUSTIN - Royal Botanical Gardens
item DAVIS, AARON - Royal Botanical Gardens

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2019
Publication Date: 10/1/2019
Citation: Vega, F.E., Smith, L., Davies, N., Goral, T., O'Sullivan, R., Moat, J., Davis, A. 2019. Elucidation of hosts, native distribution, and habitat of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) using herbaria and other museum collections. Frontiers in Plant Science. 10:1188.

Interpretive Summary: The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is the most devastating pest of coffee throughout the world and causes millions of dollars in losses each year. Despite its importance, the natural host(s) of the species remain unknown. After surveying > 14,000 wild-collected and cultivated archival specimens (mostly Rubiaceae herbarium specimens) we conclude that Coffea canephora is a natural host of the insect. Increased knowledge on the natural host plants allows to better understand the evolution of the insect. This information will be of use to coffee scientists, entomologists, ecologists, and the coffee industry.

Technical Abstract: The coffee berry borer (CBB; Hypothenemus hampei) is the most damaging insect pest of global coffee (Coffea arabica and C. canephora) production. Despite its importance, the natural host(s) of the species remain unknown. Using archival sources (mainly herbaria but also other museum collections (e.g., entomological)), we surveyed over 14,000 wild-collected and cultivated archival specimens (mostly Rubiaceae herbarium specimens) for CBB occurrence. A total of 135 sheets were recorded with potential insect damage, including 77 potential CBB infestations (i.e., characteristic entry and exit holes), and 33 positive CBB identifications (i.e., insect identified). Of the 77 potential CBB infestations all were in Coffea species. CBBs were not found in any other genera within the Rubiaceae or any other plant family. Suspected infestations in all non-Coffea plants were carefully checked using scanning electron microscopy and found to be negative. Of the 33 positive identifications, 26 were found in C. canephora (robusta coffee); four in C. liberica (Liberica coffee) and three in C. arabica (Arabica coffee). Of the 26 robusta coffee specimens positive for CBB, 14 were from wild (indigenous) locations, i.e., forests; all infestations in Arabica coffee were from cultivated material. Across African Coffea species, C. canephora and CBB share the greatest similarity in key climatic variables. We deduce from these findings, in combination with published data, that C. canephora is a natural host of CBB, the implications of which are discussed.