Coffee Berry Borer Found in Hawaii
UNITED STATES
A quarantine triggered by an infestation of the coffee berry borer (CBB) expands to include the Hawaiin island of Maui, the Hawaii Board of Agriculture announced in March. The quarantine takes effect May 1.
The quarantine, already in effect on the islands of Hawaii and Oahu, restricts the inter-island movement of coffee plants, green beans, used coffee bags and equipment. It also mandates “treatment and other quarantine protocols,” the board said in a statement.
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.
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