Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Activity and Infestation in the High Mountain and Blue Mountain Regions of Jamaica

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The coffee berry borer (CBB; Hypothenemus hampei) is an invasive beetle that causes extensive damage to coffee plantations worldwide. Controlling the CBB is difficult because it primarily resides inside coffee berries during its lifecycle, which limits the effectiveness of insecticide applications. Identifying periods of heightened female CBB flight activity can assist growers in making management decisions and evaluating integrated pest management programmes. This study monitored seasonal CBB activity using traps on coffee farms in the high mountain and Blue Mountain regions in Jamaica. Trap collection numbers were compared with berry infestation in the field. The highest CBB infestation levels occurred in November and October in the high mountain region and Blue Mountain region, respectively, coinciding with the presence of susceptible berries. CBB activity and infestation were similar in both study locations and were not significantly influenced by temperature or humidity; however, there was a notable correlation between CBB activity and infestation and the amount of rainfall. Differences in cultural control practices and cropping cycles were also observed between locations. The study lays the groundwork for understanding the dynamics of CBB populations in Jamaica, which is crucial for managing the beetle. ABSTRACT: Jamaica produces coffee marketed as Blue Mountain and high mountain (grown outside the Blue Mountains). Since the discovery of the coffee berry borer (CBB; Hypothenemus hampei) in Jamaica in 1978, chemical control has traditionally been the primary approach used to protect the crop from the pest. However, in the last 20 years, there has been an effort to shift towards more sustainable management strategies. The study was conducted to determine CBB activity (trap catch) and field infestation on coffee farms in the high mountains and Blue Mountains of Jamaica, over a crop cycle. A total of 27,929 and 12,921 CBBs were captured at high mountain and Blue Mountain farms, respectively. Peak CBB activity occurred in April in the high mountain region (365 CBBs/trap/month) and February in the Blue Mountain region (129 CBBs/trap/month). The highest levels of infestation were in November (33%) and October (34%) in the high mountain region and Blue Mountain region, respectively. There was no significant difference in the patterns of CBB activity and infestation between the study locations, and neither were related to the temperature or relative humidity. However, there was a significant relationship with rainfall. These data suggest that the population dynamics of the CBB may involve complex interactions among weather conditions, berry development, and agronomic practices.