The coffee borer beetle, or the coffee berry borer, is a pest to coffee berries and plantations worldwide. Originating from central Africa, it has now spread worldwide in areas of coffee plantations. It reached the American continent in the 1920s, first reported in Brazil in 1926. It then spread to several other parts like Mexico, Guatemala, Dominic Republic, and Puerto Rico, with its latest find being in Hawaii’s Kona in 2010.
Size: 1.2–1.6 mm (0.047-0.063 in) for males; 1.4–1.8 mm (0.055-0.07 in) for females
Color: They are black in color.
Other Characteristic Features: These beetles are characterized by their strong mandibles. The females are more developed, able to fly for short distances, while the males only have rudimentary wings unsuited for flight.
The males have a single larval stage while the females have two, measuring 0.6-0.8 mm in the first instar and the second 2.2 mm in the second. The larvae are white, with no legs, sparse hairs, well-developed mouthparts, and a brown head. This phase lasts from 10 to 26 days.
The pupae start white, turning yellow after ten days of development. Most physical features like eyes, elytra, mandibles, antennae, and wings become visible during this phase. The males are 1.2 mm long, while the females measure about 1.7 mm.
The elliptical or oval eggs are white as milk and shiny when laid. They are 0.5-0.8 mm long and 0.25-0.35 mm wide. There are 35-50 eggs laid at a time, with a 13:1 female-male ratio.
| Lifespan | Females: 35–190 days, Males: 40 days |
| Distribution | Originated from Africa; now found in coffee plantations worldwide |
| Habitat | Tropical regions where coffee grows |
| Seasons active | November to March |
| Predators | Birds like the yellow warbler and the rufous-capped warbler, certain wasp species |
| Host plants | Arabian coffee, though other coffee plant species have even been infested |
| Diet of adults | Coffee berries |
As their name suggests, these beetles, mainly the females, cause massive damage to coffee berries, drilling holes into them. Sometimes they will enter through the col3 walls of the fruit provided it is dry. The bean deteriorates in quality with reduced weight, becoming unfit for packaging.
Biological control measures like introducing parasites, spraying insecticides, and placing traps in areas of coffee plantations are ways to keep a check on their population.
Image Source: earthsky.org, i2.wp.com, researchgate.net, researchgate.net, hawaiicoffeeed.com, bugwoodcloud.org dailycoffeenews.com
The coffee borer beetle, or the coffee berry borer, is a pest to coffee berries and plantations worldwide. Originating from central Africa, it has now spread worldwide in areas of coffee plantations. It reached the American continent in the 1920s, first reported in Brazil in 1926. It then spread to several other parts like Mexico, Guatemala, Dominic Republic, and Puerto Rico, with its latest find being in Hawaii’s Kona in 2010.
Size: 1.2–1.6 mm (0.047-0.063 in) for males; 1.4–1.8 mm (0.055-0.07 in) for females
Color: They are black in color.
Other Characteristic Features: These beetles are characterized by their strong mandibles. The females are more developed, able to fly for short distances, while the males only have rudimentary wings unsuited for flight.
The males have a single larval stage while the females have two, measuring 0.6-0.8 mm in the first instar and the second 2.2 mm in the second. The larvae are white, with no legs, sparse hairs, well-developed mouthparts, and a brown head. This phase lasts from 10 to 26 days.
The pupae start white, turning yellow after ten days of development. Most physical features like eyes, elytra, mandibles, antennae, and wings become visible during this phase. The males are 1.2 mm long, while the females measure about 1.7 mm.
The elliptical or oval eggs are white as milk and shiny when laid. They are 0.5-0.8 mm long and 0.25-0.35 mm wide. There are 35-50 eggs laid at a time, with a 13:1 female-male ratio.
| Lifespan | Females: 35–190 days, Males: 40 days |
| Distribution | Originated from Africa; now found in coffee plantations worldwide |
| Habitat | Tropical regions where coffee grows |
| Seasons active | November to March |
| Predators | Birds like the yellow warbler and the rufous-capped warbler, certain wasp species |
| Host plants | Arabian coffee, though other coffee plant species have even been infested |
| Diet of adults | Coffee berries |
As their name suggests, these beetles, mainly the females, cause massive damage to coffee berries, drilling holes into them. Sometimes they will enter through the col3 walls of the fruit provided it is dry. The bean deteriorates in quality with reduced weight, becoming unfit for packaging.
Biological control measures like introducing parasites, spraying insecticides, and placing traps in areas of coffee plantations are ways to keep a check on their population.
Image Source: earthsky.org, i2.wp.com, researchgate.net, researchgate.net, hawaiicoffeeed.com, bugwoodcloud.org dailycoffeenews.com
