Coffee Berry Borer Found in Hawaii
The coffee berry borer was discovered on a Hawaiian coffee farm in December, according to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.
State entomologists confirmed that the coffee berry borer (CBB) found in Maui has infested the entire 13-acre farm, indicating that the infestation had been going on for some time. The state had received reports of other CBB discoveries on the island and had taken steps to eradicate the insect. It was not known in early January if the incidents are connected.
“Despite strict quarantine rules that have been established on the inter island movement of coffee plants and plant parts from Hawaii Island, CBB infestations have been extremely difficult to contain,” said Scott Enright, chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. “We ask that coffee growers continue to be vigilant and learn about CBB and how infestations can be detected and managed.”
The coffee berry borer, first detected in Kona is 2010, was found in Ka`u in 2011 as well as on Oahu in December 2014. The beetle bores into the coffee cherry to lay its eggs. The larvae feed on the coffee bean, reducing the yield and quality of the bean. CBB is native to Central Africa and is also found in many coffee-growing regions of the world, including Central and South America, according to state officials. It is still unknown how CBB made its way to Hawaii.