#105Coffee Berry Borer traps
105⸱AConcept
- Protects coffee trees from pests
- Increases the coffee yield
This bottle trap is highly effective in fighting the Coffee Berry Borer (CBB). It is composed of a transparent plastic bottle with soapy water, a smaller pharmaceutical bottle filled with ethanol, methanol, or commercially available CBB attractant, and a wire or string. The ethanol attracts the insects, which get trapped by the water inside the bottle and drown. The technology was developed by the Ugandan National Coffee Research Organization (NARO). It is also referred to as the NARO-Uganda Beetle Trap Technology/Broca trap.
The Coffee Berry Borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, or la broca in Spanish, is reported to be the most serious and widespread insect pest of coffee. As a result of global warming, CBB is now also infesting coffee cherries in the highlands above 1200 m. Therefore, it is found in almost all coffee-growing regions. The resulting coffee yield reduction of 30-35 % and the quality reduction cause immense commercial losses.
The female beetle drills a tunnel from the tip of the coffee cherry down into the bean and lays around 70 eggs into it. This attack can happen in the time of eight weeks after the flowering until the harvest. The hatched larvae feed on the coffee bean. It causes the beans to fall off or rot as the damaged cherry can easily be infected by bacteria and fungi.
105⸱BVideos
105⸱CTo be considered
Fighting the CBB requires action from the whole community, as the pests are able to fly long distances. It will not be helpful if one farmer uses beetle traps and others do not.
In addition to the traps, there are a number of measures that are recommended to fight the CBB:
- Improve plant nutrition through measures for soil fertility (e.g. through Biochar or Compost).
- Regular inspections of the coffee plants to identify infested cherries.
- Phytosanitary measures such as regular picking of cherries and cleaning up the ground from fallen cherries. Fallen or infested cherries should be burnt or buried in the soil to kill the CBB larvae.
- Pruning and de-suckering to avoid bushiness.
- Planting of shade trees recommended by research institutions (see Companion trees tool). Shaded coffee systems attract birds that feed on the pests. However, observe the recommended shade density to avoid too much shading, which often creates a conducive atmosphere for the pests to thrive.
When should you start controlling the pest?
Use the number of insects in the trap as a guide:
- If the trap catches around 3 insects per week, it means that the crop is reaching the risk point (1% of fruit attacked).
- If it catches 5 insects per week, the risk is greater.
- If it catches 8 insects per week, the attack is already severe.
The higher the number of insects per week, the faster the producer should start management.
Timing: The traps are a permanent measure. They should be installed before the usual occurrence of beetle pests or when you start seeing adult beetles emerge. They should be cleaned and refilled every 2 weeks. When the bottles wear out, they can be replaced.
105⸱DImplementation
Materials
For 1 ha:
105⸱1Procedure
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105⸱3
It is not necessary to hang a bottle on each coffee plant. Ideally, there should be at least one trap for every 30 coffee plants. In Brazil, due to the high density of coffee plantations, it is recommended that traps be placed at a height of one meter above the ground, between rows of coffee trees, and spaced approximately every 50 meters. However, the more traps, the better. In cases of high infestation, insect counts should be performed more frequently, every 3 days or, at most, weekly, to monitor captures and perform trap maintenance.
105⸱4
105⸱EEconomic benefits
Lower pesticide costs
This tool reduces the demand for chemical pesticides and therefore saves input costs over time.
Reduction of losses
This tool can prevent losses in coffee yield and quality.
105⸱FGreen benefits
Less pesticides needed
This tool reduces the need for chemical pesticides. This reduces water pollution, protects the ecosystem, improves soil life, and saves resources.