ARS | Publication request: Laboratory Parasitism by Phymastichus Coffea Upon Non-Target Bark Beetles Associated with Coffee Plantations

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Acceptance Date: July 5, 2004
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The coffee berry borer is the most devastating pest of coffee throughout the world. Eggs are deposited inside coffee berries, and insects feed on the coffee seed, severely reducing yields. A laboratory study was conducted to assess the susceptibility of non-target insects in coffee plantations to a coffee berry borer natural enemy, the parasitoid Phymastichus coffea. Out of five non-target species tested, the parasitoid was able to complete development on two, suggesting that the biological control effects on the coffee berry borer in the field might be diluted, if parasitism on non-target insects also occurs in the field. These results provide a better understanding of factors affecting the success of biological control programs aimed at the coffee berry borer.

Technical Abstract: The biological control agent Phymastichus coffea parasitized two species of Hypothenemus in addition to its natural host, the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei. Taking into consideration that parasitism of non-target hosts is usually much higher in the laboratory than in the field it is possible that the levels of laboratory parasitism of H. crudiae and H. eruditus do not reflect a potential risk of this parasitoid for populations of non-target bark beetles in the field.