Leucoptera Coffeella Research Articles

Reducing spray volume for the control of Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) in coffee plants

Avaliou-se, no presente trabalho, a reducao do volume de calda no controle de Leucoptera coffeella (Guerin-Meneville & Perrottet, 1842) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae, no cafe. Foi utilizado um pulverizador convencional nos volumes de 200 e 400 L ha-1 e um pulverizador de ultrabaixo volume (UBV) a 46, 67 e 92 L ha-1. As pulverizacoes utilizaram 800 mL ha-1 do inseticida profenofos+lufenuron. O marcador MnSO4 foi adicionado as caldas, na proporcao de 20 g L-1. Folhas foram coletadas em diferentes partes da planta para avaliar a quantidade de calda inseticida depositada. Para o controle de L. coffeella, folhas foram coletadas antes e depois de 7, 14 e 21 dias apos pulverizacao (DAP), para a avaliacao do numero de larvas de L. coffeella vivas e mortas. Os dados foram submetidos a analise de variância com medias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey (p<0,05). Nao houve diferenca significativa na quantidade de calda depositada entre 200 e 400 L ha-1, bem como entre os UBVs 46, 67 e 92 L ha-1, porem estes ultimos tiveram depositos significativamente menores, comparados aos dois maiores volumes. O volume estimado de inseticida depositado foi significativamente maior para 200 L ha-1. O controle sem pulverizacao teve maior numero de larvas vivas de L. coffeella comparado as pulverizacoes aos 7 e 21 DAP, com excecao para 14 DAP. O volume de 200 L ha-1, por meio do pulverizador convencional, e 92 L ha-1, com o pulverizador UBV, podem ser adotados em plantacoes de cafe, proporcionando deposito de inseticida e controle de L. coffeella com eficiencia acima de 80%.

Statistical comparison of the spatial distribution of both coffee leaf miner and predatory wasps

O cafeeiro esta sujeito ao ataque de pragas que podem causar prejuizos significativos ao produtor. A praga que mais preocupa os cafeicultores brasileiros e o bicho mineiro do cafeeiro (Lepidoptera:Lyonetiidae). Uma maneira de efetuar o controle biologico do bicho mineiro e atraves de vespas predadoras (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Pesquisadores afirmam que para realizar esse tipo de controle e importante conhecer a distribuicao espacial do bicho mineiro e das vespas. Tambem existem evidencias que a distribuicao espacial dessas especies pode ser influenciada pelas condicoes climaticas. Este trabalho teve por objetivo testar se existe diferenca entre as distribuicoes espaciais de folhas minadas, minas predadas e vespas em diferentes situacoes climaticas. Os dados utilizados foram obtidos no ano de 2006 em um hectare de pantacao de cafe orgânico, situado no municipio de Santo Antonio do Amparo-MG. Para testar a hipotese de igualdade entre duas distribuicoes espaciais foi aplicado o teste de Syrjala. Os resultados obtidos foram: nao houve diferenca na distribuicao espacial de folhas minadas e de minas predadas entre o periodo seco e chuvoso, folhas minadas e vespas apresentaram mesma distribuicao espacial tanto no periodo seco quanto no mes de maior infestacao da praga, as distribuicoes de minas predadas e vespas foram diferentes tanto para o periodo seco quanto para o mes de maior infestacao da praga.

Coffee growth, pest and yield responses to free-air CO2 enrichment

Despite the importance of coffee as a globally traded commodity and increasing concerns about risks associated with climate change, there is virtually no information about the effects of rising atmospheric [CO2] on field-grown coffee trees. This study shows the results of the first 2 years of an innovative experiment. Two commercial coffee cultivars (Catuai and Obata) were grown using the first free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) facility in Latin America (ClimapestFACE). Plants of both cultivars maintained relatively high photosynthetic rates, water-use efficiency, increased growth and yield under elevated [CO2]. Harvestable crop yields increased 14.6 % for Catuai and 12.0 % for Obata. Leaf N content was lower in Obata (5.2 %) grown under elevated [CO2] than under ambient [CO2]; N content was unresponsive to elevated [CO2] in Catuai. Under elevated [CO2] reduced incidence of leaf miners (Leucoptera coffeella) occurred on both coffee cultivars during periods of high infestation. The percentage of leaves with parasitized and predated mines increased when leaf miner infestation was high, but there was no effect of elevated [CO2] on the incidence of natural enemies. The incidence of rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora coffeicola) was low during the trial, with maximum values of 5.8 and 1 %, respectively, and there was no significant effect of [CO2] treatments on disease incidence. The fungal community associated with mycotoxins was not affected by the treatments.

Cry1Ac insecticidal protein levels in genetically modified Coffea canephora Pierre coffee plants were negatively correlated with the growth speed in a field experiment

Genetically-modified coffee clones (GMCs) were presented in a previous work. They were created from a single commercial clone of Coffea canephora Pierre (clone 126). Therefore they all have the same genotype, except for the localization of the transgenic insertions. They synthesize the Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin Cry1Ac against Leucoptera coffeella Guerin-Meneville, a secondary pest of C. canephora and one of the main pest of C. arabica in South America. The synthetic Cry1Ac gene is regulated by the EF1α-A1 promoter of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. They were tested in an experimental field for their resistance against the pest insect in a previous work. In the present work, levels of Cry1Ac were measured in the leaves. The insecticidal protein was evenly distributed in all the leaves. Cry1Ac levels were measured once in the coffee plants of a sensitive GMC and of 14 resistant ones grown in the experimental field and in plants grown in a greenhouse. Some resistant GMCs contained higher levels but it is not possible to confirm that it would be enough for a sustainable resistance to the pest. Growth speed was variable in the plot. The correlation with plant height and other indicators of plant growth was examined. Cry1Ac levels in the GMCs were negatively correlated with growth speed. The latter was not statistically influenced neither by Cry1Ac synthesis nor by the genetic modification in itself as seen by comparing the GMCs and the unmodified control clone 126. Hence the conclusion is that the growth conferred to field-grown plants by environmental factors and especially the soil was probably the underlying cause of the negative correlation. Other field experiments would be necessary in order to confirm this result. It would be important that the genetic construct inserted in these GMCs and mainly the EF1α-A1 promoter of the Cry1Ac gene be reconsidered since Cry1Ac levels might be too low to provide efficient and sustainable protection against L. coffeella in a highly favourable environment for coffee plants. Alternatives are discussed.

Ecology of Vespidae (Hymenoptera)Predators in Coffea arabica Plantations

Social Vespidae exhibit control of Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) in Brazil. The objective was to determine the ideal unit for sampling of predaceous Vespidae in coffee crops in the vegetative and reproductive phases. This research was conducted in two coffee plantations in Viçosa, MG. The factors being studied were: crop phase, canopy thirds, branch type, exhibition side of the plant to solar light and the position of the leaf on the branch. The number of predation mines by Vespidae on all the leaves of each evaluated plant was recorded. In coffee plants in the vegetative phase the best sampling unit of the Vespidae was the 5th or 6th pair of leaves on the primary plagiotropic branches of the median third of the canopy. In coffee plants already in the reproductive phase the best unit for sampling Vespidae were leaves on the third apical of the 4th or 6th pair of leaves on primary plagiotropic branches on the plant face exposed to the sun in the afternoon period or on the median third on the 5th pair of leaves of the plant face exposed to the sun in the afternoon period.

Insecticide Activity of Weeds to Pests of Stored Product and Crops

Farmers from family farming faces serious problems of pest attack, both in their production on the field and in storage. The weed species with insecticidal action were identified through toxicity tests to insects. The species of plants tested were Ageratumm conyzoides, Euphorbia heterophylla, Sida rhombifolia and Sida spinosa and the insects were Leucoptera coffeella, Macrosiphum rosae, Atta sexdens rubropilosa, Solenopsis invicta and Sitophilus zeamais. The aim of this study was to identify weeds with insecticide activity against agricultural pests, extract the active compounds of weeds and perform bioassays with hexane and ethanol extracts of weeds on agricultural pests and stored grain. The plant material was subjected to extraction with ethanol and hexane. The mortality bioassays were conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications in triple factorial design (4 x 5 x 2). The data of mortality were subjected to analysis of variance and the differences among means were compared by Tukey's test (p < 0.05). We detected significant differences between the mortality rates for the different species of plants, insect species and between the types of solvents and also in the interactions between insect species x types of solvents, plant species x types of solvents, plant species x insect species and between plant species x species of insects and types of solvents. In general, the hexane extracts of the plant species A. conyzoides and S. rhombifolia were the most toxic. The most susceptible insects species were L. coffeella, S. invicta and M. rosae.

Ocorrência sazonal, predação e parasitismo de Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Méneville, 1842) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae) em cafeeiros associados à grevíleas

The leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella, is a key pest in coffee crops, causing significant losses. This work aimed to study the seasonal occurrence of leaf miner and the infestation rates of parasitism and predation natural pest in coffee associated with grevillea trees in Southwestern Bahia, Brazil. The experiment consisted of five fields (treatments) and four replicates, totaling 20 plots. Treatments were defined by the spacing of grevillea associated with Catuai (IAC 144): Treatment 1 – shaded - without grevillea; Treatment 2 - 18x18m = 31 grevilleas.ha-1; Treatment 3 - 12x12m = 69 grevilleas.ha-1; Treatment 4 - 6.0 x12m = 139 grevilleas.ha-1 and Treatment 5 - 6.0 x6,0m = 277 grevilleas.ha-1. The plots consisted of four (T4 and T5) and six coffee plants (T1, T2 and T3) around one grevillea plant. We quantified the number of leaves with mines, mines per leaf, total mines, mine predated and parasitized from September/2011 to June/2012. The results indicated that the influence of the increased density of grevillea trees the population of the leaf miner is not uniform over time, presenting unfavorable the period September to December 2011, to densities in the band 180-220 grevilleas.ha-1, from which promotes the growth of the insect population. In the period from February to June 2012, the increase in the density of grevillea trees acts negatively on the pest population. The predation has the same trend as the leaf miner infestation in relation to the density of grevillea trees, while the parasitism does not show a pattern of behavior with respect to that variable. The relation between predation and parasitism is positive.

Extrafloral nectaries of associated trees can enhance natural pest control

Plant diversity may increase natural enemy populations because some plants can provide alternative food to natural enemies. Extrafloral nectar is such an alternative food and plants producing extrafloral nectar are known to suffer less from herbivory. Little is known about the effect of plants with extrafloral nectaries on herbivory of neighbouring plants. Here, we investigated whether extrafloral nectaries of an associated tree (Inga subnuda subsp. luschnathiana) can enhance natural pest control in coffee agroforestry systems. We assessed the effect of nectar availability from Inga trees on parasitism of coffee leaf miners (Leucoptera coffeella) and on damage caused by coffee leaf miners and coffee berry borers (Hypothenemus hampei). Most of the nectary visitors were either parasitoids or predators, with most predators being natural enemies of coffee pests. Coffee plants were sampled every metre along a transect of 10–15m extending from each Inga tree. The distance of the coffee plants from the Inga trees did not significantly correlate with coffee leaf miner parasitism, proportion of mined leaves or with the proportion of bored coffee berries. We subsequently used abundance and species richness of those nectary visitors without known association with leaf miners and borers as indirect measures of nectar availability. Whereas species richness had no significant effect on natural pest control, leaf miner parasitism increased significantly with the abundance of nectary visitors (excluding natural enemies of the coffee pests), and the proportion of mined leaves decreased significantly with this abundance. The proportion of bored fruits decreased with increasing abundance of visitors, but this trend was not significant. Together, these results suggest that Inga trees provide alternative food to natural enemies of coffee pests, resulting in increased natural control. Thus, extrafloral nectaries of associated trees can enhance natural pest control in agroforestry systems.

Influence of rubber trees on leaf-miner damage to coffee plants in an agroforestry system

The coffee leaf-miner (CLM) (Leucoptera coffeella Guerin-Meneville; Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), the main pest of coffee plants, occurs widely throughout the Neotropics where it has a significant, negative economic and quantitative impact on coffee production. This study was conducted in a rubber tree/coffee plant interface that was influenced by the trees to a varying degrees depending on the location of the coffee plants, i.e. from beneath the rubber trees, extending through a range of distances from the edge of the tree plantation to end in a coffee monocrop field. The most severe damage inflicted on coffee plants by the CLM (number of mined leaves) from April, which marks the start of the water deficit period, until September 2003 was in the zone close to the rubber trees, whereas the damage inflicted on plants in the monocropped field was comparable to that on coffee plants grown directly beneath the rubber trees, which received about 25–40 % of the available irradiance (Ir—available irradiation at a certain position divided by the irradiation received in full sunlight, i.e. in the monocrop). From May until July damage caused by the CLM nearly doubled in each month. In midwinter (July), the damage decreased perceptibly from the tree edge toward the open field. From September onward, with the rising air temperatures CLM damage in the coffee monocrop started to increase. Based on these results, we conclude that coffee plants grown in the full sun incurred the most damage only at the end of winter, with warming air temperatures. Coffee plants grown in shadier locations (25–40 % Ir) were less damaged by the CLM, although a higher proportion of their leaves were mined. The rubber trees probably acted as a shelter during the cold autumn and winter seasons, leading to greater CLM damage over a distance outside the rubber tree plantation that was about equal to the height of the trees. Future studies should attempt to relate leaf hydric potential to pest attack in field conditions. More rigorous measurements of shade conditions could improve our understanding of the relationship of this factor to CLM attack.

Beyond selectivity: Are behavioral avoidance and hormesis likely causes of pyrethroid-induced outbreaks of the southern red mite Oligonychus ilicis?

Secondary pest outbreak is a counterintuitive ecological backlash of pesticide use in agriculture that takes place with the increase in abundance of a non-targeted pest species after pesticide application against a targeted pest species. Although the phenomenon was well recognized, its alternative causes are seldom considered. Outbreaks of the southern red mite Oligonychus ilicis are frequently reported in Brazilian coffee farms after the application of pyrethroid insecticides against the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella. Selectivity favoring the red mite against its main predatory mites is generally assumed as the outbreak cause, but this theory has never been tested. Here, we assessed the toxicity (and thus the selectivity) of deltamethrin against both mite species: the southern red mite and its phytoseid predator Amblyseius herbicolus. Additionally, behavioral avoidance and deltamethrin-induced hormesis were also tested as potential causes of red mite outbreak using free-choice behavioral walking bioassays with the predatory mite and life-table experiments with both mite species, respectively. Lethal toxicity bioassays indicated that the predatory mite was slightly more susceptible than its prey (1.5×), but in more robust demographic bioassays, the predator was three times more tolerant to deltamethrin than its prey, indicating that predator susceptibility to deltamethrin is not a cause of the reported outbreaks. The predator did not exhibit behavioral avoidance to deltamethrin; however insecticide-induced hormesis in the red mite led to its high population increase under low doses, which was not observed for the predatory mite. Therefore, deltamethrin-induced hormesis is a likely cause of the reported red mite outbreaks.

Toxicity of organic farming‑compatible products to the coffee leaf miner

The objective of this work was to evaluate the toxicity of organic farming‑compatible products to the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella. Lime sulphur, enriched Bordeaux mixture (Viça Café Plus), and the "supermagro" biofertilizer were first tested in laboratory. The most promising product was tested afterwards under field conditions. In laboratory, different concentrations of each product were applied on L. coffeella eggs and on infested coffee‑mined leaves. Only lime sulphur had ovicidal effects at an acceptable concentration (1.6%) for field applications, but no significant effect on larvae mortality was found. Enriched Bordeaux mixture and the "supermagro" biofertilizer had no effect on L. coffeella eggs and larvae. In the field trial, biweekly or monthly sprayings of lime sulphur at different concentrations caused population decrease after 30 days; however, this effect was not significant after 60 or 90 days.

Selection of active plant extracts against the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae)

Aiming to contribute to the development of alternative control methods of the coffee leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville &amp; Perrottet, 1842) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae), a search for plants able to produce active substances against this insect was carried out, with species collected during different periods of time in the Alto Rio Grande region, (Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil). Coffee leaves containing L. coffeella mines were joined with 106 extracts from 77 plant species and, after 48 hours, the dead and alive caterpillars were counted. The extracts from Achillea millefolium, Citrus limon, Glechoma hederacea, Malva sylvestris, Mangifera indica, Mentha spicata, Mirabilis jalapa, Musa sapientum, Ocimum basiculum, Petiveria alliaceae, Porophyllum ruderale, Psidium guajava, Rosmarinus officinalis, Roupala montana, Sambucus nigra and Tropaeolum majus showed the highest mortality rates.

Incidence and severity of coffee leaf rust and other coffee pests and diseases in Rwanda

Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) caused by Hemileia vastatrix Berk. and Br. has a worldwide distribution and causes enormous yield losses. A survey was conducted in Rwanda to evaluate incidence and severity of CLR and other coffee pests and diseases and to determine how the crop management contributes to CLR severity. A stratified random sample of 307 coffee farms was visited and the prevalence, incidence and severity were recorded. Results showed that all provinces were affected by CLR with the highest severity in Eastern province where the incidence was up to 100%. High altitudes were associated with low disease severity with a negative correlation of - 0.71. Coffee berry disease (CBD) was a minor disease but with a potential to become an epidemic in the future. Coffee leaf miner, Antestia bugs and Coffee stem borer were recorded but were managed below economic injury levels. All commercial cultivars were susceptible to CLR and most management practices such as mulching, pruning and fertilizer application were associated with lower levels of CLR severity except intercropping which resulted in higher disease intensity. Implications of this survey in relation to CLR management in Rwanda are discussed in this study. Key words: Coffee, diseases, incidence, severity, management, Rwanda.

Species abundance and potential biological control services in shade vs. sun coffee in Puerto Rico

Birds, lizards and insects were surveyed in three sun and three shade coffee plantations in Puerto Rico to provide a comprehensive comparison of biodiversity between plantations types and to identify potential interrelationships (e.g., biological or natural control services) between members of each taxon and coffee pests. Abundance of avian species, including insectivorous species, was significantly higher in shade coffee. Anolis cristatellus and A. stratulus were significantly more abundant in sun plantations whereas A. gundlachi and A. evermanni were detected more frequently in shade plantations. Insects in the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, and Psocoptera were significantly more abundant in shade coffee, while orthopterans were more abundant in sun. The coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeela) and the flatid planthopper (Petrusa epilepsis) did not differ significantly between plantation types, nor did the abundance of the wasp complex that parasitizes the coffee leaf miner. These findings confirmed that shade plantations harbor a wide array of elements of biodiversity; but sun plantations may also harbor many elements of biodiversity, and in some cases, in higher abundance than in shade plantations.

Leaf miner incidence in coffee plants under different drip irrigation regimes and planting densities

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different drip irrigation regimes and planting densities on the incidence of the leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella, in arabica coffee plants for one year. The experiment was carried out in 2008, in a complete randomized block design, in a split-plot in time arrangement, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of four drip irrigation regimes - soil water balance, irrigations at 20 and 60 kPa soil tensions, and a nonirrigated treatment -, which were distributed at three plant densities: 2, 500, 5, 000, and 10, 000 plants per hectare. The evaluations were made on a monthly basis between January and December 2008. The highest pest occurrence period was from August to November, a season with low-air relative humidity preceded by a drought period. Irrigated coffee plants showed an incidence of intact mines 2.2 times lower than that of nonirrigated plants. Irrigation and increasing of plant density contribute to the reduction of coffee leaf miner occurrence.

Microsatellite markers in analysis of resistance to coffee leaf miner in Arabica coffee

The objective of this work was to analyze coffee (Coffea arabica) genotypes resistant to the coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeella) using microsatellite markers. Sixty-six loci were evaluated, of which 63 were obtained from the Brazilian Coffee Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) database. These loci were amplified in bulks of individuals from F5 progenies of 'Siriema' (C. arabica x C. racemosa) resistant and susceptible to the insect, in eight samples of C. racemosa, and in a F6 population of 'Siriema' with 91 individuals segregating for resistance to the leaf miner. Polymorphisms were verified for two simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci in bulks of the susceptible progenies. The two polymorphic alleles were present in around 70% of the susceptible genotypes in F5 and in approximately 90% of the susceptible individuals in F6. However, the polymorphic EST-SSR markers among populations contrasting for resistance to leaf miner were not correlated to the evaluated characteristics. SSR markers show inter- and intraspecific polymorphism in C. arabica and C. racemosa.

Spatial distribution of the coffee-leaf-miner (Leucoptera coffeella) in an organic coffee (Coffea arabica L.) field in formation.

Coffee production has been one of the economy pillars of many tropical countries. Unfortunately, this crop is susceptible to infestation by the coffee-leaf-miner ( Leucoptera coffeella (Guerin-Meneville & Perrottet, 1842)) which causes severe damage to coffee plantations with losses that may reach 80% of the total production. In recent years, researchers have been trying to develop practices for minimizing the use of pesticides in the coffee-leaf-miner control. It is well known that the understanding of the spatial distribution of insects may be important in the context of biological control of pests. The aim of this work is to use spatial statistical methods for characterizing the spatial distribution of the coffee-leaf-miner in a plantation of organic coffee ( Coffea arabica L.). This work uses the number of mined leaves taken from a grid of 35 sampling locations from one hectare of an organic plantation of coffee in the second year of its implantation during the annual peak population (September 2006) of the coffee-leaf-miner. A geostatistical method (semivariogram) was used to characterize the spatial variability of the coffee-leaf-miner in an organic coffee field in formation. The results showed that the coffee-leaf-miner population was randomly distributed in the field during the annual peak population.

EFEITO DE FUNGICIDAS TRIAZÓIS SOBRE O CONTROLE DA CERCOSPORIOSE EM MUDAS DE CAFEEIRO

RESUMO Fungicidas do grupo dos triazóis e suas misturas com inseticidas são convencionalmente empregados para o controle da ferrugem e do bicho mineiro na cultura do cafeeiro. Neste estudo avaliou-se o efeito desses produtos sobre o controle da cercosporiose, causada por Cercospora coffeicola, outra importante doença do cafeeiro. Três experimentos foram realizados em casa de vegetação com mudas de cafeeiro da cultivar Mundo Novo IAC 501, sendo os produtos aplicados na parte aérea e no substrato. Os produtos aplicados na parte aérea foram: epoxiconazol, epoxiconazol + piraclostrobina, tetraconazol, ciproconazol, oxicloreto de cobre, azoxistrobina e carbendazim e no substrato: ciproconazol + tiametoxam, triadimenol + dissulfotom e triadimenol. Testemunhas sem tratamento químico também foram incluídas nos três experimentos. As mudas foram inoculadas com suspensões preparadas com cinco isolados de C. coffeicola (3-4 conídios/mL). A incidência e a severidade da doença foram avaliadas de 20 até 56 dias após as inoculações. Com exceção do oxicloreto de cobre, todos os demais tratamentos foram eficientes no controle da cercosporiose. Os triazóis, com exceção do tetraconazol, apresentaram sintomas reversíveis de fitotoxicidade. Os produtos: ciproconazol + tiametoxam, epoxiconazol + piraclostrobina e carbendazim tiveram os maiores efeitos residuais, e mantiveram o controle da doença por até 56 dias após sua aplica ção. Os triazóis utilizados para o controle da ferrugem também são eficientes para o controle da cercosporiose do cafeeiro.

Spatial and temporal dynamics of coffee-leaf-miner and predatory wasps in organic coffee field in formation

The coffee production is an economic mainstay for many countries in the world. Brazil is the world's largest producer and exporter of coffee, being responsible for about 25% of the world production. It is well known that coffee plantations are susceptible to more than 850 fungal and insect pests. Among these pests, the most important significant throughout Brazil is the coffee-leaf-miner, [Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville &amp; Perrottet, 1842) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae)]. It is estimated that the loss in yield due to infestation by L. coffeella moths can increase to as much as 80% in areas where the coffee-leaf-miner larvae are not controlled. Though it is effective, the chemical control of the pest substantially increases the cost of production and constitutes a risk to the environment. The knowledge about the spatial-temporal dynamics of coffee-leaf-miner and predatory wasps may provide valuable information about the biological management pest context. One way to investigate the spatial-temporal synchronism of predator and prey is to calculate and compare an index of spatial randomness within a sequence time. This paper advocates using the Morisita's index, coupled with the bootstrap method, in a temporal sequence to characterize the spatial- temporal dynamics of coffee-leaf-miner and predatory wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in one hectare of an organic coffee plantation. The results showed that coffee-leaf-miner and predatory wasps presented a seasonal behavior with a temporal synchronism. The results also showed that both new and preyed mines were aggregated during the peak population (dry season). There was little evidence for space-time interaction between coffee-leaf-miner and predatory wasps.

Antixenosis resistance to leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella in Coffea species

The coffee leaf miner, Leucoptera coffeella, is the most important pest of Coffea arabica plantations in Brazil, and all cultivars are susceptible to the insect. However, distinct reactions have been observed in other species, such as C. congensis and C. canephora. In this work, the occurrence of antixenotic response was surveyed in individuals of Coffea species, selected for resistance to the leaf miner at both field and laboratory conditions. Tests performed on young plants from C. arabica cultivars Icatu Precoce IAC 3282, Mundo Novo IAC 515-20, Tupi IAC 1669-33 and Catuai Amarelo IAC 62 demonstrated that these were preferred for oviposition when pooled with seedlings from C. canephora cv. Apoata IAC 2258. Apoata was also preferred over C. racemosa for oviposition. Similar results were observed in tests using detached leaves, and higher amount of eggs was counted in the cv Obata IAC 1669-20 and Catuai Vermelho IAC 81, and lower oviposition frequency was observed in C. canephora cv. Guarini IAC 1598. C. congensis showed an oviposition frequency between C. arabica and C. canephora. Also, the results suggest that the frequency of oviposition is co-related with the plant resistance level, during larvae infection.