Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The long-term goal of this project is to increase knowledge of the biology and ecology of the coffee berry borer, and to develop innovative user-friendly, economical, and environmentally acceptable pest management technologies that can be effectively implemented. Research will focus on finding previously unrecorded natural enemies, testing a recently discovered biocontrol agent, determining whether volatiles produced by the berry can serve as attractants or repellents, and determining whether microorganisms play a role in how the insect survives on a food source containing caffeine. Over the next 5 years we will focus on the following objectives: Objective 1: Discover and evaluate the biological control potential of natural enemies of tropical pests, particularly the coffee berry borer. � Sub-objective 1.A. Identify new natural enemies of the coffee berry borer through ongoing collaborations, focusing on Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. � Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biocontrol potential of a recently discovered coffee berry borer predator. Objective 2: Develop methods for managing tropical pests (with focus on coffee berry borer) based on knowledge of pest biology (e.g., attractants and repellents, as well as microorganism-mediated mechanisms that allow the insect to thrive on coffee), and host plant-pest interactions, as deduced by studies of host gene expression in response to infestation. � Sub-objective 2.A. Identify coffee plant volatiles that attract or repel coffee berry borers, using in planta volatile collection techniques. � Sub-objective 2.B. Identify microorganisms associated with the coffee berry borer that contribute to insect establishment and survival inside the berry, and determine the mechanism of the interaction. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving our understanding of the beetle and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416): The project will focus on the discovery and evaluation of the biological control potential and mechanisms of natural enemies of tropical pests, in particular coffee berry borer. Through ongoing collaborations new natural enemies of the coffee Berry borer will be identified and their potential as biological control agents will be evaluated. This portion of the project will focus on natural enemies from Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. Further evaluations of the biological control potential of other recently discovered insect predators will be continued. The project will also focus on improving our understanding of the biology of the coffee berry borer. The project will evaluate the insect�s ability to be attracted or repelled by natural coffee volatiles. These plant attractants and/or repellents will be further evaluated for their biological control potentials. Finally microorganisms will be identified from coffee Berry borers. These organisms will be evaluated for their ability to help the insect establish itself and survive inside the coffee berry. The biology of the insect-microorganism-interaction will also be evaluated. The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is the most devastating pest of coffee throughout the world and causes millions of dollars in losses each year. Increased knowledge on the basic biology of the coffee berry borer can result in new insights on how to control this insect, thereby reducing losses and increasing yields. A parasitic nematode (Metaparasitylenchus hypothenemi) was found infecting coffee berry borers in various plantations in a coffee-growing region in Mexico. Scanning electron microscopy research has revealed that unlike other bark beetles, the coffee berry borer does not possess cuticular pits � scientifically known as mycangia � that can harbor fungi and/or bacteria. A volatile that acts as a coffee berry borer repellent was identified in the laboratory and tested in field bioassays in Hawaii. The repellent was active for at least 19 weeks and reduced coffee berry borer trap captures by up to 80%. Research aimed at identifying the microbial diversity in the alimentary canal of the coffee berry borer has resulted in the identification of several bacteria that appear to be involved in the breakdown of caffeine, thus explaining how the coffee berry borer is able to survive solely on coffee seeds. Our findings have important implications for understanding the basic biology of this major pest and provides novel avenues for its control. This information will be of use to coffee scientists, entomologists, microbiologists, and the coffee industry. This project is terminating during this annual report cycle.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Vega, F.E., Infante, F., Johnson, A.J. 2015. The genus Hypothenemus, with emphasis on H. hampei, the coffee berry borer. In: Vega, F.E., Hofstetter, R., Bark Beetles: Biology and Ecology of Native and Invasive Species. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. p. 427-494.
- Gomez, J., Chavez, B., Castillo, A., Valle, F., Vega, F.E. 2015. The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei: How many instars are there? Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 108:311-315.
- Vega, F.E., Simpkins, A., Bauchan, G.R., Valdez-Carrasco, J.M., Castillo, A., Infante, F. 2015. A mysterious wing spine in male coffee berry borers. Florida Entomologist. 98:352-353.
- Greenfield, M., Pareja, R., Ortiz-Londono, V., Gomez-Jimenez, M.I., Vega, F.E., Parsa, S. 2015. A novel method to scale up fungal endophyte isolations. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 25:1208-1212.
- Vega, F.E., Bauchan, G.R., Infante, F., Valdez-Carrasco, J.M., Beaver, R. 2015. Visualizing the mesothoracic spiracles in a bark beetle: The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 108:446-448.
- Perez, J., Infante, F., Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2015. Natural parasitism of Metaparasitylenchus hypothenemi (Tylenchida: Allantonematidae) on the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, in Chiapas, Mexico. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 25:608-612.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The long-term goal of this project is to increase knowledge of the biology and ecology of the coffee berry borer, and to develop innovative user-friendly, economical, and environmentally acceptable pest management technologies that can be effectively implemented. Research will focus on finding previously unrecorded natural enemies, testing a recently discovered biocontrol agent, determining whether volatiles produced by the berry can serve as attractants or repellents, and determining whether microorganisms play a role in how the insect survives on a food source containing caffeine. Over the next 5 years we will focus on the following objectives: Objective 1: Discover and evaluate the biological control potential of natural enemies of tropical pests, particularly the coffee berry borer. - Sub-objective 1.A. Identify new natural enemies of the coffee berry borer through ongoing collaborations, focusing on Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. - Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biocontrol potential of a recently discovered coffee berry borer predator. Objective 2: Develop methods for managing tropical pests (with focus on coffee berry borer) based on knowledge of pest biology (e.g., attractants and repellents, as well as microorganism-mediated mechanisms that allow the insect to thrive on coffee), and host plant-pest interactions, as deduced by studies of host gene expression in response to infestation. - Sub-objective 2.A. Identify coffee plant volatiles that attract or repel coffee berry borers, using in planta volatile collection techniques. - Sub-objective 2.B. Identify microorganisms associated with the coffee berry borer that contribute to insect establishment and survival inside the berry, and determine the mechanism of the interaction. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving our understanding of the beetle and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416): The project will focus on the discovery and evaluation of the biological control potential and mechanisms of natural enemies of tropical pests, in particular coffee berry borer. Through ongoing collaborations new natural enemies of the coffee Berry borer will be identified and their potential as biological control agents will be evaluated. This portion of the project will focus on natural enemies from Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. Further evaluations of the biological control potential of other recently discovered insect predators will be continued. The project will also focus on improving our understanding of the biology of the coffee berry borer. The project will evaluate the insect�s ability to be attracted or repelled by natural coffee volatiles. These plant attractants and/or repellents will be further evaluated for their biological control potentials. Finally microorganisms will be identified from coffee Berry borers. These organisms will be evaluated for their ability to help the insect establish itself and survive inside the coffee berry. The biology of the insect-microorganism-interaction will also be evaluated. Various research projects were conducted aimed at gaining a better understanding of the biology and ecology of the coffee berry borer with the ultimate goal of developing novel biological control strategies against the insect. Sampling of coffee berries infested with the coffee berry borer in Mexico was conducted in collaboration with scientists at El Colegio de la Frontera Sur. After sampling thousands of coffee berries infested with the coffee berry borer, parasitic nematodes were isolated from the insect and identified. Research aimed at finding previously unreported natural enemies of the coffee berry borer by determining alternate host plants of the coffee berry borer was conducted in collaboration with scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. Based on sampling of members of the Rubiaceae (coffee family), there is a clear pattern of coffee berry borer infestation in Coffea, where infestation is restricted to West Africa, either on or west of the Great River Valley, with Coffea canephora being the key host within Coffea. Scanning electron microscope research has revealed that the coffee berry borer does not possess mycangia (pits on the cuticle that can harbor microorganisms). In collaboration with USDA-ARS-Peoria, a volatile emanating from coffee berries infested with the coffee berry borer has been identified as a possible repellent. Initial laboratory bioassays have shown a reduced percentage of damaged coffee berries when the repellent is present. Research done in collaboration with scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has identified a bacterium in the gut of the coffee berry borer that is involved in caffeine breakdown. All these findings have important implications in the development of pest management strategies against the coffee berry borer. Accomplishments 01 Microbes in the gut are responsible for detoxification of caffeine in the primary insect pest of coffee. The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, is the most devastating pest of coffee grown throughout the world and causes millions of dollars in losses each year. Increased knowledge on the basic biology of the coffee berry borer can result in new insights on how to control this insect, thereby reducing losses and increasing yields. ARS researchers and Collaborators have isolated various bacteria in the insect gut that appear to be involved in detoxifying caffeine. When these bacteria are eliminated through the use of antibiotics, the insect is unable to degrade caffeine. This discovery of a microbial component to the transformation of caffeine and subsistence of H. hampei on coffee beans has important implications for understanding the metabolism and ecology of this major pest and provides novel avenues for its biocontrol. This information will be of use to coffee scientists, entomologists, microbiologists, and the coffee industry.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Infante, F., Castillo, A., Perez, J., Vega, F.E. 2013. Field-cage evaluation of the parasitoid Phymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) as a natural enemy of the coffee berry borer. Biological Control. 67:446-450.
- Vega, F.E., Simpkins, A., Bauchan, G.R., Infante, F., Kramer, M.H., Land, M.F. 2014. On the eyes of the coffee berry borer as rudimentary organs. PLoS One. 9(1):e85860.
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The long-term goal of this project is to increase knowledge of the biology and ecology of the coffee berry borer, and to develop innovative user-friendly, economical, and environmentally acceptable pest management technologies that can be effectively implemented. Research will focus on finding previously unrecorded natural enemies, testing a recently discovered biocontrol agent, determining whether volatiles produced by the berry can serve as attractants or repellents, and determining whether microorganisms play a role in how the insect survives on a food source containing caffeine. Over the next 5 years we will focus on the following objectives: Objective 1: Discover and evaluate the biological control potential of natural enemies of tropical pests, particularly the coffee berry borer. � Sub-objective 1.A. Identify new natural enemies of the coffee berry borer through ongoing collaborations, focusing on Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. � Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biocontrol potential of a recently discovered coffee berry borer predator. Objective 2: Develop methods for managing tropical pests (with focus on coffee berry borer) based on knowledge of pest biology (e.g., attractants and repellents, as well as microorganism-mediated mechanisms that allow the insect to thrive on coffee), and host plant-pest interactions, as deduced by studies of host gene expression in response to infestation. � Sub-objective 2.A. Identify coffee plant volatiles that attract or repel coffee berry borers, using in planta volatile collection techniques. � Sub-objective 2.B. Identify microorganisms associated with the coffee berry borer that contribute to insect establishment and survival inside the berry, and determine the mechanism of the interaction. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving our understanding of the beetle and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416): The project will focus on the discovery and evaluation of the biological control potential and mechanisms of natural enemies of tropical pests, in particular coffee berry borer. Through ongoing collaborations new natural enemies of the coffee Berry borer will be identified and their potential as biological control agents will be evaluated. This portion of the project will focus on natural enemies from Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. Further evaluations of the biological control potential of other recently discovered insect predators will be continued. The project will also focus on improving our understanding of the biology of the coffee berry borer. The project will evaluate the insect�s ability to be attracted or repelled by natural coffee volatiles. These plant attractants and/or repellents will be further evaluated for their biological control potentials. Finally microorganisms will be identified from coffee Berry borers. These organisms will be evaluated for their ability to help the insect establish itself and survive inside the coffee berry. The biology of the insect-microorganism-interaction will also be evaluated. Various research projects were conducted aimed at developing biological control strategies against the coffee berry borer. Sampling of coffee berries infested with the coffee berry borer in Mexico was conducted in collaboration with scientists at El Colegio de la Frontera Sur. Samples have been collected from 20 coffee plantations in the Soconusco region of Chiapas. More than 18,000 coffee berries have been processed, containing over 21,000 adult coffee berry borers of which 116 specimens were infected with nematodes. Identification of the nematodes is pending. Research aimed at finding previously unreported natural enemies of the coffee berry borer by determining alternate host plants of the coffee berry borer was conducted in collaboration with scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. The survey of Kew�s collection continued with a focus on Rubiaceae (coffee family). In addition, the entire holdings of Coffea at the Natural History Museum of London was examined, as well as at the National Botanic Gardens in Belgium. We continue to see a distinct pattern of coffee berry borer infestation in Coffea, where infestation is restricted to West Africa, either on or west of the Great River Valley, with Coffea canephora being the key host within Coffea. Scanning electron microscope research aimed at determining whether the coffee berry borer possesses mycangia (pits on the cuticle that can harbor microorganisms) is in progress. A volatile that might be acting as a coffee berry bore repellent was identified and tested in laboratory bioassays in collaboration with USDA-ARS-Peoria. Research done in collaboration with scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, aimed at identifying the internal microbial diversity associated with the coffee berry borer, has resulted in the identification of dozens of microorganisms. The possible role of these microorganisms on the biology of the insect is under study.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Ceja Navarro, J., Brodie, E.L., Vega, F.E. 2012. A technique to dissect the alimentary canal of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), with isolation of internal microorganisms. The Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research (JEAR). 44:e21.
- Parsa, S., Ortiz, V., Vega, F.E. 2013. Establishing fungal entomopathogens as endophytes: towards endophytic biological control. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 74:e50360.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The long-term goal of this project is to increase knowledge of the biology and ecology of the coffee berry borer, and to develop innovative user-friendly, economical, and environmentally acceptable pest management technologies that can be effectively implemented. Research will focus on finding previously unrecorded natural enemies, testing a recently discovered biocontrol agent, determining whether volatiles produced by the berry can serve as attractants or repellents, and determining whether microorganisms play a role in how the insect survives on a food source containing caffeine. Over the next 5 years we will focus on the following objectives: Objective 1: Discover and evaluate the biological control potential of natural enemies of tropical pests, particularly the coffee berry borer. � Sub-objective 1.A. Identify new natural enemies of the coffee berry borer through ongoing collaborations, focusing on Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. � Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biocontrol potential of a recently discovered coffee berry borer predator. Objective 2: Develop methods for managing tropical pests (with focus on coffee berry borer) based on knowledge of pest biology (e.g., attractants and repellents, as well as microorganism-mediated mechanisms that allow the insect to thrive on coffee), and host plant-pest interactions, as deduced by studies of host gene expression in response to infestation. � Sub-objective 2.A. Identify coffee plant volatiles that attract or repel coffee berry borers, using in planta volatile collection techniques. � Sub-objective 2.B. Identify microorganisms associated with the coffee berry borer that contribute to insect establishment and survival inside the berry, and determine the mechanism of the interaction. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving our understanding of the beetle and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416): The project will focus on the discovery and evaluation of the biological control potential and mechanisms of natural enemies of tropical pests, in particular coffee berry borer. Through ongoing collaborations new natural enemies of the coffee Berry borer will be identified and their potential as biological control agents will be evaluated. This portion of the project will focus on natural enemies from Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Further evaluations of the biological control potential of other recently discovered insect predators will be continued. The project will also focus on improving our understanding of the biology of the coffee berry borer. The project will evaluate the insect�s ability to be attracted or repelled by natural coffee volatiles. These plant attractants and/or repellents will be further evaluated for their biological control potentials. Finally, microorganisms will be identified from coffee Berry borers. These organisms will be evaluated for their ability to help the insect establish itself and survive inside the coffee berry. The biology of the insect-microorganism-interaction will also be evaluated. Various research projects were conducted aimed at developing biological control strategies against the coffee berry borer. Sampling of coffee berries infested with the coffee berry borer in Mexico was conducted in collaboration with scientists at El Colegio de la Frontera Sur as part of the SCA 58-1275-1-151F. More than 5,350 coffee berry borers have been dissected and 17 specimens were infected with nematodes. Taxonomic identification of the nematode is pending. Research aimed at finding previously unreported natural enemies of the coffee berry borer by determining alternate host plants of the coffee berry borer was conducted in collaboration with scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew as part of SCA 58-1275-1-152-F. The entire Coffea collection, some 2,500 specimens, has been surveyed for the presence of coffee berry borers and possible infestation has been found in specimens originating from West and Central Africa. Scanning electron microscope research aimed at determining whether the coffee berry borer possesses mycangia (pits on the cuticle that can harbor microorganisms) is in progress. Various volatiles that might serve as a marking pheromone are being examined in collaboration with USDA-ARS-Peoria. Research done in collaboration with scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, aimed at identifying the internal microbial diversity associated with the coffee berry borer, has resulted in the identification of dozens of microorganisms. The possible role of these microorganisms on the biology of the insect is under study.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Kaya, H.K., Vega, F.E. 2012. Scope and Basic Principles of Insect Pathology. In: Vega, F., Kaya, H.K., editors. Insect Pathology. 2nd edition. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. p. 1-12.
- Vega, F.E., Meyling, N.V., Luangsa-Ard, J.J., Blackwell, M. 2012. Fungal Entomopathogens. In: Vega, F., Kaya, H.K., editors. Insect Pathology. 2nd Edition. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. p. 171-220.
- Jaramillo, J., Muchugu, E., Vega, F.E., Davis, A., Borgemeister, C., Chabi- Olaye, A. 2011. Some like it hot: the influence and implications of climate change on coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) and coffee production in East Africa. PLoS One. 6:e24528.
- Burbano, E., Wright, M., Vega, F.E. 2011. New record for the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, in Hawaii. Journal of Insect Science. 11:117.
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The long-term goal of this project is to increase knowledge of the biology and ecology of the coffee berry borer, and to develop innovative user-friendly, economical, and environmentally acceptable pest management technologies that can be effectively implemented. Research will focus on finding previously unrecorded natural enemies, testing a recently discovered biocontrol agent, determining whether volatiles produced by the berry can serve as attractants or repellents, and determining whether microorganisms play a role in how the insect survives on a food source containing caffeine. Over the next 5 years we will focus on the following objectives: Objective 1: Discover and evaluate the biological control potential of natural enemies of tropical pests, particularly the coffee berry borer. � Sub-objective 1.A. Identify new natural enemies of the coffee berry borer through ongoing collaborations, focusing on Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. � Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biocontrol potential of a recently discovered coffee berry borer predator. Objective 2: Develop methods for managing tropical pests (with focus on coffee berry borer) based on knowledge of pest biology (e.g., attractants and repellents, as well as microorganism-mediated mechanisms that allow the insect to thrive on coffee), and host plant-pest interactions, as deduced by studies of host gene expression in response to infestation. � Sub-objective 2.A. Identify coffee plant volatiles that attract or repel coffee berry borers, using in planta volatile collection techniques. � Sub-objective 2.B. Identify microorganisms associated with the coffee berry borer that contribute to insect establishment and survival inside the berry, and determine the mechanism of the interaction. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving our understanding of the beetle and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416) The project will focus on the discovery and evaluation of the biological control potential and mechanisms of natural enemies of tropical pests, in particular coffee berry borer. Through ongoing collaborations new natural enemies of the coffee Berry borer will be identified and their potential as biological control agents will be evaluated. This portion of the project will focus on natural enemies from Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. Further evaluations of the biological control potential of other recently discovered insect predators will be continued. The project will also focus on improving our understanding of the biology of the coffee berry borer. The project will evaluate the insect�s ability to be attracted or repelled by natural coffee volatiles. These plant attractants and/or repellents will be further evaluated for their biological control potentials. Finally microorganisms will be identified from coffee Berry borers. These organisms will be evaluated for their ability to help the insect establish itself and survive inside the coffee berry. The biology of the insect-microorganism-interaction will also be evaluated. Sampling of coffee berries infested with the coffee berry borer in Kenya and Uganda was conducted in collaboration with scientists at the International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Kenya as part of SCA 58-1275-9-186F. A total of 27 insects (divided into five taxonomically different groups) were collected and will be identified to determine their potential role as natural enemies of the coffee berry borer. Coffee berry borer specimens for research aimed at identifying microbial diversity were obtained from Hawaii, Mexico, and Guatemala. Laboratory experiments indicated that the coffee berry borer might produce a marking pheromone. A new mite species collected from coffee plants in Costa Rica was described in collaboration with scientists at the Systematic Entomology Laboratory. Accomplishments 01 Possible novel pest management strategy against the coffee berry borer. The coffee berry borer is the most devastating insect pest of coffee in the world, causing more than 500 million U.S. dollars in losses every ye and greatly reducing the quality of coffee available to the coffee industry. Laboratory experiments indicated that as female density increases, the number of progeny produced was reduced. One possible mechanism to explain this finding is the production of a marking pheromo by the female, i.e., a chemical that signals other females that a coffee berry is already occupied and prompts females outside the berry to continue searching for an uninfested berry. ARS researchers at Beltsvil Maryland, and Peoria, Illinois, are conducting experiments aimed at determining whether a marking pheromone can be detected. The elucidatio of a marking pheromone could become a widely implemented pest management strategy that could vastly reduce coffee berry borer damage in the field thereby increasing the availability of high quality coffee for the U.S. coffee industry.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Vega, F.E., Kramer, M.H., Jaramillo, J. 2011. Increasing coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei; Curculionidae: Scolytinae) female density in artificial diet decreases fecundity. Journal of Economic Entomology. 104:87-93.
- Beard, J., Ochoa, R., Vega, F.E. 2011. Asca nelsoni sp. nov. (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ascidae), a new mite species from coffee leaf domatia in Costa Rica. Systematic & Applied Acarology Special Publications. 16:7-20.
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