Coffee berry borer threatens Brazilian coffee productivity

Coffee producers in Brazil face significant threats from the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), a pest that requires constant monitoring from flowering through fruit maturation. The beetle, measuring only 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters, bores into the fruit to lay eggs, with larvae feeding on the endosperm. This process reduces grain mass, compromises beverage quality, and lowers overall productivity per hectare.

Infestations are particularly favored in warm, humid conditions and in plantations with staggered flowering or irrigation, as the presence of fruit at different developmental stages allows the pest to multiply continuously. Strategic production regions, including Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, São Paulo, Bahia, Rondônia, and Mato Grosso, are at risk. Effective control depends on rigorous sampling and preventing uncollected fruit from serving as reservoirs for the next cycle.