CBB pest found in coffee trees in Hawaii

Coffee berry borer ravages the big island (red part). Photo: CBB translated by Huang Wei

The Department of Agriculture of the State of Hawaii (HDOA) confirmed on 12 May 2011 that a coffee pulp borer (CBB) pest (in Pahala in the Ka`u District of the Big Island) was found on a farm in Ka`u District, Hawaii Island. Ka`u is a coffee growing area and is currently being investigated to determine the extent of the damage to the coffee pulp borer.

Photo Source: STARADVERTISER

The coffee pulp fruit borer CBB (Hypothenemus hampei) was first discovered in the coffee producing area of Kona in September last year (2010). At present, it has ravaged the western part of the island. The United States Department of Agriculture is working with Kona coffee farmers to take various measures to control the spread of coffee berry borer pests.

Coffee pulp fruit borer (coffee berry borer: Hypothenemus hampe), originated in central Africa, is a beetle and the most harmful pest to coffee crops. 70% of coffee-producing countries are affected by it, mainly in Latin America. The female adults drill holes at the end of the coffee fruit and eat into the fruit to lay eggs; the eggs, larvae and pupae all develop in the fruit, and the adults drill out the fruit after Eclosion. The insect mainly harms ripe fruits and seeds, not only destroys the flavor of coffee, but also reduces coffee yield by 90% in serious cases. In February, the Department of Agriculture of Hawaii approved the use of "fungal Beauveria bassiana" (fungus Beauveria bassiana) to control the spread of coffee pulp borer.