Do you know what pests and diseases are the biggest threats to coffee?

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What causes coffee disease or attracts pests?

Coffee, like all crops, is susceptible to pest infestation or disease, and a report by CIRAD, the French agricultural research centre, states: "Most coffee diseases are caused by fungi, and only a few by bacteria or viruses." Root rot, leaf rust, coffee berry disease, can attack coffee trees without any physiological defects. Other diseases can infect coffee trees because of specific physiological defects."

coffee gene

Some coffee tree varieties are less resistant to disease, such as pointy bourbon, which is highly susceptible to leaf rust.

environmental factors

Coffee is grown in many countries, and pests and diseases are a problem in different regions. But specific pests vary from region to region. Coffee beetles, for example, breed more easily in humid environments.

When Arabica is grown at lower elevations, warmer and wetter climates increase the risk of breeding coffee beetles. Even in dry season, however, the silverfish hide in the fruit until rain begins, and once it does, the hidden silverfish emerge and cause extensive damage. Some diseases are almost global, such as coffee leaf rust, a fungus that has become the biggest threat to coffee cultivation worldwide, with outbreaks occurring in almost every coffee-producing country regardless of environmental factors.

What pests need special attention?

Although there are hundreds of pests that affect coffee trees, some have a wider impact. The French agricultural research report mentioned above indicates that more than 900 insect species and several other pest aggregations affect the growth of coffee trees (including parasites, mollusks such as snails, birds, and mammals).

But the report also points out that most pests are concentrated in specific areas and continents, and only a small number of pests can grow in tropical areas. Most pests spread accidentally during coffee bean transport. Let's take a closer look at some coffee pests.

Common coffee pests

Insects usually destroy coffee beans and reduce their density. Coffee bitten by insects is more susceptible to fungal or other microbial infections. Infected coffee trees not only reduce production, but also affect the flavor and aroma of coffee produced.

The following pests are commonly found in coffee fields:

1. coffee beetle

2. coffee leaf miner

3. scale insects

4. nematode