Metaflumizone susceptibility baseline, reproduction, locomotion, and respiration responses on the Hypothenemus hampei

Abstract

Coffee berry borer (CBB) is the world's primary coffee pest. Recently, metaflumizone was registered for the control of CBB. This study investigated the susceptibility baseline, reproduction, locomotion, and respiration responses in the CBB (Hypothenemus hampei) exposed to metaflumizone. Lethal concentration (LC10, LC50, and LC99) values for metaflumizone were determined for seventeen populations from Brazil. Coffea arabica fruits infested with the CBB were collected during 2020–2021 from regions with significant coffee production. Metaflumizone reduced the respiration rate of H. hampei from 0.51 to 0.22 μL CO2 h−1 at LC50 for up to 3 h after insecticide exposure. A low concentration (LC10) of metaflumizone showed a stable respiration rate for H. hampei. The locomotion and reproduction (number of eggs) of H. hampei were affected. The recommended diagnostic concentration for H. hampei was 58.0 mg a.i. L−1. Our findings suggest that metaflumizone-based insecticides can be an effective alternative for use in rotation with insecticides of different chemical groups to control this key pest.