Injurious and Beneficial Insects in Coffee Plantations of Costa Rica and Guatemala, 1964

Abstract

The severe defoliation of coffee plants in the Central Plateau region of Costa Rica and the heavy outbreak of a leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella (Guerin-Meneville), in coffee plantings in Guatemala were investigated in 1964. Insects that inhabit coffee plantings and the surrounding environment were identified. In Costa Rica the severe defoliation was caused by infestations of red spider mites, Oligonychus sp., and localized but severe outbreaks of L. coffeella . The citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso), had also damaged coffee plantings in certain areas. Since a drought prevailed and an active volcano was spewing ash, the degree of defoliation caused by insects, drought, or ash deposit could not be separated. Malathion sprays applied by helicopter reduced the infestations of mites and leaf miners but did not control the mealybugs; the sprays were often applied too late in the season for maximum efficiency. In Guatemala, the leaf miner had severely defoliated coffee grown at altitudes below 3000 feet. Although the insect was present in all plantations visited, it had not caused serious injury at the higher altitudes where parasites seemed more plentiful. Certain varieties of coffee appear to be resistant to injury. Other injurious insects identified on coffee included: the black thread scale, Ischnaspis longirostis (Signoret); Coccus sp.; and Saissetia sp. Parasites and predator species reared from larvae of L. coffeella in Guatemala included: Bucculatriplex sp., Calvolia sp., Closterocems sp., Entedontini sp., Zagrammosoma sp. and Thysanus sp. Parasitic species of insects collected in trays under coffee plants when insecticides were applied by helicopter included: Drino sp., Leschenaultia leucophrys (Wiedemann), Perisierola sp., Apanteles sp., Horismenus sp., Zagrammosoma sp., Eurytoma sp., Rieya sp., Platygaster sp., Trichacis sp., Ceratoteleia sp., Trissolcus sp., and 10 species of Formicidae. Other species of insects collected in Guatemala and Costa Rica are listed.