Lepidoptera, Linnaeus, 1758

Bustillo, Alex, 2015, Part II. Pests, Compendium of Coffee Diseases and Pests, United States of America: The American Phytopathological Society, pp. 45-60 : 56

The most important defoliators ( Lepidoptera : Geometridae )

found affecting coffee plantations are members of the family Geometridae and characterized by large and voracious larvae that move with a typical looping motion. Species from various regions of the world are quite different, although they may have separated from common ancestors, giving place to sympatric species, individuals that are very similar and occupy the same geographical regions but do not mate. Ascotis selenaria (Denis & Schiffermüller) , known as the giant coffee looper, is a serious pest in Kenya. In the Americas, Oxydia spp. are common defoliators of coffee plants. On Colombian coffee plantations, outbreaks of O. trychiata (Guenée) , O. hispata Guenée , O. vesulia Cramer , Paragonia procidaria Herrich-Schäffer , Glena bisulca Rindge , and an Apicia sp. ( Fig. 97 ) take place where there is excessive use of insecticides or where plantations are in close proximity to outbreaks of these defoliators on conifer plantations.

In general, adult females lay egg masses on the foliage and larvae emerge after 8-10 days and then go through five or six instars, feeding on the foliage of affected coffee plants. The larval stage lasts about 45 days, and mature larvae fall to the soil, where they pupate, taking about 15-18 days for the adult moth to emerge. The sex ratio is 1: 1, and adults mate at dusk to start a new cycle. The number of eggs produced varies from 300 to 1,000.

Damage

Heavy infestations can cause the total defoliation of the trees. Although the coffee trees can recover, there is a complete loss of the crop.

Population Management

Injurious attack of defoliators in coffee ecosystems is mainly due to the abuse or indiscriminate use of insecticides, which reduces their natural enemies. The use of insecticides is there ­ fore not recommended to control these defoliators. They have numerous natural enemies that can keep the population under control. Many parasitoids of the genera Trichogramma , Telenoand Apanteles , tachina flies, and ichneumon wasps have reported to control defoliator populations. Infections by fungiof the genus Cordyceps and several polyhedral viruses very common. If the population is out of control, spraying formullations of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner or the fungus bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) Vuill. is recommended.

Figures

Fig. 97. Larva of an Apicia sp., a common defoliator on coffee plantations in Colombia. (Courtesy A. Bustillo, Cenicafé)