Abstract

BUSTILLO PARDEY, Alex Enrique. A review of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), in Colombia. Rev. Colomb. Entomol. [online]. 2006, vol.32, n.2, pp.101-116. ISSN 0120-0488.

The coffee berry borer (cbb) Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), is the most important pest of coffee not only in Colombia but in almost all the coffee producing countries, causing severe crop losses to the growers. Due to the fact that it is an exotic pest, the first strategy was to introduce their natural enemies present in Africa to Colombia such as the parasitoids, Cephalonomia stephanoderis, Prorops nasuta and Phymastichus coffea. Then research was undertaken to obtain strains of the fungus Beauveria bassiana with potential to kill the borer. Massive rearing processes were developed for these biological agents to disseminate them in all the coffee area infested by the borer. Finally, a management program was structured for the coffee farm, which included: knowledge on crop phenology related to cbb development, cbb level of infestation, cultural control and agronomical practices which reduce cbb incidence, avoiding the escape of the insect during the coffee processing area, together with the biological components mentioned above. Use of chemical insecticides, are restricted to products of low toxicity and low environmental impact and should be applied in those situations in which the levels of infestation are above from the thresholds, specially in areas where cbb is found aggregated. The integration of all these activities to reduce cbb populations at low levels, is possible under Colombian coffee conditions, as it is been shown in the research results.

Keywords : Coffea arabica; Beauveria bassiana; Cephalonomia stephanoderis; Prorops nasuta; Phymastichus coffea..

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