The coffee berry borer is the most destructive and economically significant pest of coffee worldwide. As the only insect known to feed and complete its life cycle inside coffee berries, it can infest up to 100% of berries under severe outbreaks, resulting in substantial yield losses and a marked decline in bean quality.
Life Cycle
The pest undergoes four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult almost entirely within the coffee berry.
Oviposition and Development:
The female drills an entry hole into the berry and constructs galleries within the seed, where she lays 2–3 eggs daily for about 20 days. Development from egg to adult takes 24–45 days, depending on temperature.Survival Between Seasons:
Adults, particularly females, persist in leftover berries on the tree or ground, where they remain inactive until the onset of rains prompts emergence and infestation of new berries. Development is faster in berries on the ground due to moderated temperatures.Reproduction:
Mating occurs inside the berry. Males are wingless and never leave the berry, whereas females disperse to initiate new infestations.Longevity:
Females live 35–190 days, males about 40 days.
Identification
Egg:
Elliptical, milky-white, shiny; approximately 0.7 mm × 0.3 mm.Larva:
White, legless, lightly haired; brown head capsule; 2.5 mm long. Females have two larval instars; males have one.Pupa:
White initially, turning yellow with time; visible antennal and wing structures. Female pupae measure 1.7 mm, males 1.2 mm.Adult:
Females are black, with four teeth on the pronotum’s frontal margin and long erect setae. Males are small, deformed, and wingless.
Feeding and Damage
Female borers attack both immature and mature berries from about eight weeks after flowering. After penetrating the berry, they create galleries in the seeds where larvae feed, causing:
Premature drop of young berries
Increased susceptibility of ripe berries to secondary infections
Significant yield reduction and deteriorated cup quality
Greater damage when harvesting is delayed
Infestation is easily confirmed by cutting open the berry to observe tunneled galleries and the presence of the insect at various developmental stages.
Management and Control
Chemical Control
Because the borer completes its life cycle inside the berry, insecticides are most effective before penetration. Early and consistent application is critical.
Recommended insecticides:
- BILLIONAIRE 500 WP at 5g per 20L of water
- PRESENTO TOP 800 WDG at 2g per 20L of water
PRESENTO 200SP – 5 g/20 L
For improved efficacy, mix each spray with INTEGRA at 3 ml/20 L, a sticker–spreader–penetrant that enhances chemical absorption.
To avoid resistance development, alternate insecticide classes throughout the season.
Non-Chemical Methods
Integrated cultural practices are essential for reducing borer populations:
Field sanitation: removing leftover berries on trees and the ground
Destroying heavily infested berries by deep burial or burning
Weed management to eliminate alternative habitats
Intercropping or crop rotation to disrupt pest cycles
Use of baited traps in pruned fields
Conservation or introduction of natural enemies such as parasitic wasps