Progress 08/10/15 to 07/28/20
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): Over the next five years we will focus on the following objective: Objective 1: Develop novel pest management technologies for control of coffee berry borer, involving the use of sesquiterpene repellents and the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae. Sub-objective 1.A. Determine the effectiveness of a recently identified sesquiterpene as a coffee berry borer repellent. Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biological control potential of microsclerotial formulations of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium spp. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving available pest management tactics and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416): The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, is the most devastating insect pest of coffee worldwide. Endemic to Africa, the beetle is now present in most coffee growing regions. Since most of its life cycle is spent inside the coffee berry, it is extremely difficult to control. Recent efforts aimed at managing the coffee berry borer have focused on biological control alternatives, including the release of parasitoids and the use of fungal entomopathogens. Mass production of some parasitoids has not been optimized, and in cases where these have been imported from Africa and released in the field, results have not been promising. Delivery of fungal entomopathogens remains a major obstacle due to the cryptic nature of the insect and the difficulty and cost of spraying in coffee plantations. This project will focus on two areas that will likely result in improved control of the coffee berry borer: (1) Determining the effectiveness of a repellent in reducing infestation levels; and (2) Assessing the effectiveness of microsclerotial granules of various species of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium against coffee berry borers that remain inside berries that have fallen on the ground. The results of this research project will greatly contribute towards the development of novel control tactics against this important agricultural pest. Progress was made on Objective 1, Subobjective 1A, which falls under National Program 304, Crop Protection and Quarantine, Component 3, Insects and Mites, Sub-component 3A: Agricultural and Horticultural Cropping Systems, Problem Statement 3A2: Systems approach to environmentally-sound pest management. Under Subobjective 1A, we have been conducting research aimed at determining whether the bacteria involved in caffeine breakdown in the coffee berry borer are transmitted from the mother to its progeny via the egg. We have sequenced 50 different bacterial isolates and have focused the bioinformatics efforts on determining whether caffeine breakdown or antimicrobial peptide genes are present in these isolates. In collaboration with a scientist at the University of Alabama we have also sequenced a bacterial strain, which through bioinformatics, has been shown to have five caffeine-breakdown genes. Finally, we have been studying possible acoustic communication in the coffee berry borer. The project is terminating during this annual report cycle. Several coffee berry borer-related research projects were completed during the duration of this project, including: the identification of a repellent against the coffee berry borer; the development of a technique that allows to study the social behavior of the insect; the visualization of the mesathoracic spiracles in the insect; the elucidation of the mouthparts structure and elemental composition of the mandibles; the visualization of the internal anatomy, including the respiratory system, using micro-computerized tomography; studies on the use of a nematode to negatively affect insect population levels; the elucidation of plant hosts and native distribution of the insect using herbaria collections; and the determination of differential metabolic responses in seeds infested by the insect. Accomplishments 01 Discovery of a chemical repellent that targets the coffee berry borer. The coffee berry borer continues to pose a formidable challenge to coffee growers worldwide. Because of the cryptic life habit of the insect inside coffee berries, effective pest management strategies have been difficult to develop. An ARS scientist from Beltsville, Maryland, identified a compound that acts as a repellent against the coffee berry borer. In a field experiment in Hawaii, the repellent resulted in up to 80% decreased in coffee berry borer captures in traps where the repellent was present, compared to traps containing just an attractant. The repellent was placed inside a plastic wrapper known as a bubble cap, which allowed the repellent to exit at controlled rates letting the repellent remain active for at least 19 weeks after installation in the coffee plantation. These findings have potential national and international impact for coffee producer, the coffee industry and for consumers.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Vega, F.E., Pionar, G. 2020. Entomopathogenic fungi (Hypocreales: Ophiocordycipitaceae) infecting bark lice (Psocoptera) in Dominican and Baltic amber. Mycology. 11:71⿿77.
- Vega, F.E., Smith, L., Davies, N., Goral, T., O'Sullivan, R., Moat, J., Davis, A. 2019. Elucidation of hosts, native distribution, and habitat of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) using herbaria and other museum collections. Frontiers in Plant Science. 10:1188.
- Vega, F.E., Ziska, L.H., Simpkins, A., Infante, F., Davis, A., Rivera, J., Barnaby, J.Y., Wolf, J.E. 2020. Early growth phase and caffeine content response to recent and projected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide in coffee (Coffea arabica and C. canephora). Scientific Reports. 10:5875.
- Alba-Tercedor, J., Alba-Alejandre, I., Vega, F.E. 2019. Revealing the respiratory system of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei, Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) using micro-computed tomography. Scientific Reports. 9:17753.
- Alba, A.I., Alba, T., Vega, F.E. 2019. Anatomical study of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) using micro-computed tomography. Scientific Reports. 9:17150.
- Castro-Moretti, F.R., Cocuron, J., Vega, F.E., Alonso, A. 2020. Differential metabolic responses caused by the most important insect pest of coffee worldwide, the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 68:2597-2605.
- Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2020. A new genus of Empididae (Diptera) with enlarged basal flagellomeres in Mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Historical Biology.
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): Over the next five years we will focus on the following objective: Objective 1: Develop novel pest management technologies for control of coffee berry borer, involving the use of sesquiterpene repellents and the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae. Sub-objective 1.A. Determine the effectiveness of a recently identified sesquiterpene as a coffee berry borer repellent. Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biological control potential of microsclerotial formulations of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium spp. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving available pest management tactics and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416): The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, is the most devastating insect pest of coffee worldwide. Endemic to Africa, the beetle is now present in most coffee growing regions. Since most of its life cycle is spent inside the coffee berry, it is extremely difficult to control. Recent efforts aimed at managing the coffee berry borer have focused on biological control alternatives, including the release of parasitoids and the use of fungal entomopathogens. Mass production of some parasitoids has not been optimized, and in cases where these have been imported from Africa and released in the field, results have not been promising. Delivery of fungal entomopathogens remains a major obstacle due to the cryptic nature of the insect and the difficulty and cost of spraying in coffee plantations. This project will focus on two areas that will likely result in improved control of the coffee berry borer: (1) Determining the effectiveness of a repellent in reducing infestation levels; and (2) Assessing the effectiveness of microsclerotial granules of various species of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium against coffee berry borers that remain inside berries that have fallen on the ground. The results of this research project will greatly contribute towards the development of novel control tactics against this important agricultural pest. Progress was made on Objective 1, Subobjective 1A, which falls under National Program 304, Crop Protection and Quarantine, Component 3, Insects and Mites, Sub-component 3A: Agricultural and Horticultural Cropping Systems, Problem Statement 3A2: Systems approach to environmentally-sound pest management. Under Subobjective 1A, and in collaboration with a scientist in Mexico, we conducted research to test the coffee berry borer repellent in the field. We have also been conducting research aimed at determining whether the bacteria involved in caffeine breakdown in the coffee berry borer are transmitted from the mother to its progeny via the egg. We have recently sequenced 50 different bacterial isolates recovered from the insect and in collaboration with a bioinformatician are determining whether a caffeine breakdown gene is present in these isolates. Finally, we have been studying possible acoustic communication in the coffee berry borer and have been fine tuning the recording equipment after obtaining >150 recordings.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Donga, T., Vega, F.E., Klingen, I. 2018. Establishment of the fungal entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana as an endophyte in sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum. Fungal Ecology. 35:70-77.
- Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2018. A mid-Cretaceous ambrosia fungus, Paleoambrosia entomophila gen. et sp. nov. (Ophiostomotales: Ophiostomataceae) in Burmese amber. Fungal Biology. 122:1159-1162.
- Poinar, G., Vega, F.E. 2019. A mid-Cretaceous trichomycete, Priscadvena corymbiatus gen. et sp. nov., in Burmese amber. Fungal Biology. 123:393- 396.
- Castillo, A., Martinez, F., Gomez, J., Cisneros, J., Vega, F.E. 2019. Sterility of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), caused by the nematode Metaparasitylenchus hypothenemi (Tylenchidae: Allantonematidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology.
- Alba-Alejandre, I., Alba-Tercedor, J., Vega, F.E. 2018. Micro-CT to document the coffee bean weevil, araecerus fasciculatus (Coleoptera: Anthribidae), inside field-collected coffee berries (Coffea canephora). Insects. 9(3):100.
- Ziska, L.H., Bradley, B.A., Wallace, R.D., Bargeron, C.T., Laforest, J.H., Choudhury, R.A., Garrett, K.A., Vega, F.E. 2018. Climate change, carbon dioxide and pest biology; Managing the future. Agronomy Journal. 8:152.
- Alba-Alejandre, I., Alba-Tercedor, J., Vega, F.E. 2018. Observing the devastating coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) inside the coffee berry using micro-computerized tomography. Scientific Reports. 8:17033.
- Poinar, G., Vega, F.E., Legalov, A. 2018. New subfamily of ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Platypodidae) from mid-Cretaceous Burmese ambe. Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny.
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Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): Over the next five years we will focus on the following objective: Objective 1: Develop novel pest management technologies for control of coffee berry borer, involving the use of sesquiterpene repellents and the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae. ¿ Sub-objective 1.A. Determine the effectiveness of a recently identified sesquiterpene as a coffee berry borer repellent. ¿ Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biological control potential of microsclerotial formulations of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium spp. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving available pest management tactics and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416): The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, is the most devastating insect pest of coffee worldwide. Endemic to Africa, the beetle is now present in most coffee growing regions. Since most of its life cycle is spent inside the coffee berry, it is extremely difficult to control. Recent efforts aimed at managing the coffee berry borer have focused on biological control alternatives, including the release of parasitoids and the use of fungal entomopathogens. Mass production of some parasitoids has not been optimized, and in cases where these have been imported from Africa and released in the field, results have not been promising. Delivery of fungal entomopathogens remains a major obstacle due to the cryptic nature of the insect and the difficulty and cost of spraying in coffee plantations. This project will focus on two areas that will likely result in improved control of the coffee berry borer: (1) Determining the effectiveness of a repellent in reducing infestation levels; and (2) Assessing the effectiveness of microsclerotial granules of various species of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium against coffee berry borers that remain inside berries that have fallen on the ground. The results of this research project will greatly contribute towards the development of novel control tactics against this important agricultural pest. Progress was made on Objective 1, Subobjective 1A, which falls under National Program 304, Crop Protection and Quarantine, Component 3, Insects and Mites, Sub-component 3A: Agricultural and Horticultural Cropping Systems, Problem Statement 3A2: Systems approach to environmentally-sound pest management. Under Subobjective 1A, we published a paper reporting on a repellent shown to be effective in the field against the coffee berry borer, the most devastating insect pest of coffee worldwide. In collaboration with a scientist in Mexico, we have initiated research to test the repellent in coffee plantations in Chiapas and Veracruz. We have also continued working on one of the contingencies, i.e., investigations aimed at elucidating the behavior of the coffee berry borer using a novel technique involving placing insects on artificial insect diet within two glass plates. Recent work has shown that the coffee berry borer exhibits a few different types of behavior when other members of its family are present, but when a different insect species is placed inside the diet sandwich, the behavior drastically changes to include constant and frantic motion, aggression towards the intruder, and cessation of oviposition. Our findings have important implications for understanding the basic biology of the coffee berry borer, which might result in novel methods for its management. In addition, we have been conducting research aimed at determining whether the bacteria involved in caffeine breakdown in the coffee berry borer is transmitted from the mother to its progeny via the egg.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Vega, F.E., Simpkins, A., Miranda, J., Harnly, J.M., Infante, F., Castillo, A., Wakarchuk, D., Cosse, A.A. 2017. A repellent against the coffee berry borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). Journal of Insect Science. 17(6):122.
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): Over the next five years we will focus on the following objective: Objective 1: Develop novel pest management technologies for control of coffee berry borer, involving the use of sesquiterpene repellents and the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae. � Sub-objective 1.A. Determine the effectiveness of a recently identified sesquiterpene as a coffee berry borer repellent. � Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biological control potential of microsclerotial formulations of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium spp. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving available pest management tactics and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416): The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, is the most devastating insect pest of coffee worldwide. Endemic to Africa, the beetle is now present in most coffee growing regions. Since most of its life cycle is spent inside the coffee berry, it is extremely difficult to control. Recent efforts aimed at managing the coffee berry borer have focused on biological control alternatives, including the release of parasitoids and the use of fungal entomopathogens. Mass production of some parasitoids has not been optimized, and in cases where these have been imported from Africa and released in the field, results have not been promising. Delivery of fungal entomopathogens remains a major obstacle due to the cryptic nature of the insect and the difficulty and cost of spraying in coffee plantations. This project will focus on two areas that will likely result in improved control of the coffee berry borer: (1) Determining the effectiveness of a repellent in reducing infestation levels; and (2) Assessing the effectiveness of microsclerotial granules of various species of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium against coffee berry borers that remain inside berries that have fallen on the ground. The results of this research project will greatly contribute towards the development of novel control tactics against this important agricultural pest. Progress was made on Objective 1, Subobjective 1A, which falls under National Program 304, Crop Protection and Quarantine, Component 3, Insects and Mites, Sub-component 3A: Agricultural and Horticultural Cropping Systems, Problem Statement 3A2: Systems approach to environmentally-sound pest management. Under Subobjective 1A, we made significant progress in identifying a repellent that might be effective against the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), the most devastating insect pest of coffee worldwide. A paper reporting the repellent effects of a chemical produced by coffee berry borer-infested coffee plants has been submitted. The ARS collaborator in Peoria, Illinois has left the agency and we therefore shifted our research emphasis to one of the contingencies, i.e., investigations aimed at elucidating the behavior of the insect using a novel technique involving artificial insect diet within two glass plates. This research revealed that the insect exhibits subsocial behavior and a paper has been published reporting these results, with additional research planned and ongoing. Our findings have important implications for understanding the basic biology of the coffee berry borer and provide novel avenues for its management.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Vega, F.E., Simpkins, A., Rodriguez-Soto, M.M., Infante, F., Biedermann, P. H. 2017. Artificial diet sandwiches reveal sub-social behavior in the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). Journal of Applied Entomology. 141:470-476.
- Infante, F., Ortiz, J.A., Solis-Montero, L., Mound, L.A., Vega, F.E. 2017. Thrips (Thysanoptera) of coffee flowers. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 110:329-337.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): Over the next five years we will focus on the following objective: Objective 1: Develop novel pest management technologies for control of coffee berry borer, involving the use of sesquiterpene repellents and the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium anisopliae. � Sub-objective 1.A. Determine the effectiveness of a recently identified sesquiterpene as a coffee berry borer repellent. � Sub-objective 1.B. Evaluate the biological control potential of microsclerotial formulations of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium spp. These objectives will integrate various components that we believe are essential to greatly improving available pest management tactics and to move the field into a new direction. Approach (from AD-416): The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, is the most devastating insect pest of coffee worldwide. Endemic to Africa, the beetle is now present in most coffee growing regions. Since most of its life cycle is spent inside the coffee berry, it is extremely difficult to control. Recent efforts aimed at managing the coffee berry borer have focused on biological control alternatives, including the release of parasitoids and the use of fungal entomopathogens. Mass production of some parasitoids has not been optimized, and in cases where these have been imported from Africa and released in the field, results have not been promising. Delivery of fungal entomopathogens remains a major obstacle due to the cryptic nature of the insect and the difficulty and cost of spraying in coffee plantations. This project will focus on two areas that will likely result in improved control of the coffee berry borer: (1) Determining the effectiveness of a repellent in reducing infestation levels; and (2) Assessing the effectiveness of microsclerotial granules of various species of the fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium against coffee berry borers that remain inside berries that have fallen on the ground. The results of this research project will greatly contribute towards the development of novel control tactics against this important agricultural pest. 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 chemical produced by coffee berry borer-infested coffee plants has been identified as a coffee berry borer repellent in the laboratory and in a preliminary field trial. A technique has been successfully developed to test insect antennal responses to the compound. Various concentrations of the repellent were tested in the laboratory in a formulation suitable for field use (bubble caps) and an appropriate dose for field-testing has been selected. A technique was also developed to observe, monitor and film different types of insect behavior, such as gallery construction, oviposition, gallery blocking, mating and most remarkably, subsocial tasks like maternal sanitation and tending of eggs and larvae. 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.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Zhou, L., Vega, F.E., Tan, H., Ramirez Lluch, A., Meinhardt, L.W., Fang, W. , Mischke, B.S., Irish, B.M., Zhang, D. 2016. Developing Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers for the identification of Coffee germplasm. Tropical Plant Biology. 9:82-95.
- Greenfield, M., Gomez-Jimenez, M.I., Ortiz, V., Vega, F.E., Kramer, M.H., Parsa, S. 2016. Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae endophytically colonize cassava roots following soil drench inoculation. Biological Control. 95:40-48.
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