#104Black Coffee Twig Borer traps
104⸱AConcept
- Protects coffee trees from pests
- Increases the coffee yield
This bottle trap is highly effective in fighting the Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB). It is composed of a transparent plastic bottle with soapy water, a smaller pharmaceutical bottle with ethanol, and a wire or string. The ethanol attracts the insects, which get trapped by the water inside the bottle and drown. The technology was developed by the Ugandan National Coffee Research Organization (NARO). It is also referred to as the NARO-Uganda Beetle Trap Technology/Broca trap.
The Black Coffee Twig Borer (BCTB), Xylosandrus compactus, attacks branches of mainly Robusta trees, causing them to dry. However, its presence and attack on arabica trees has also been reported. Unmanaged, BCTB can reduce coffee yield by up to 50 %. Damage increases during the dry season, particularly in shaded, closely planted, or poorly pruned coffee trees.
Only female beetles harm the plants, boring into the xylem and creating brood chambers for eggs. The hollow sections made inside the twigs block translocation of water and nutrients to the branches resulting in drying of infested twigs. The twigs which dry due to infestation are often crop-bearing branches. The borer’s larvae and adults feed via a symbiotic relationship with the ambrosia fungus.
104⸱BVideos
104⸱CTo be considered
Fighting the BCTB requires action from the whole community, as the pests are able to fly long distances. It will not be helpful if one farmer uses beetle traps and others do not.
In addition to the traps, there are a number of measures that are recommended to fight the BCTB:
- Improve plant nutrition through measures for soil fertility as highest BCTB infestations are observed with low phosphorus. Helpful measures are the application of Biochar or Compost.
- Regular inspections of the coffee plants to identify infested plant parts.
- Phytosanitary measures such as cutting, chopping, and burning of infested plant parts.
- Pruning and de-suckering to avoid bushiness.
- Avoiding alternate BCTB host trees as companion trees such as Maesopsis eminii or Markhamia platycalyx. Its presence and damage are also reported in avocado and cocoa plantations.
- Planting of shade trees recommended by research institutions, e.g. Albizia coriaria, Ficus spp. (see Companion trees). Shaded coffee systems attract birds that feed on the pests. However, observe the recommended shade density to avoid too much shading, which often creates a conducive atmosphere for the pests to thrive.
When should you start controlling the pest?
Use the number of insects in the trap as a guide:
- If the trap catches around 3 insects per week, it means that the crop is reaching the risk point (1% of fruit attacked).
- If it catches 5 insects per week, the risk is greater.
- If it catches 8 insects per week, the attack is already severe.
The higher the number of insects per week, the faster the producer should start management.
Timing: The traps are a permanent measure. They should be installed before the usual occurrence of beetle pests or when you start seeing adult beetles emerge. They should be cleaned and refilled every 2 weeks. When the bottles wear out, they can be replaced.
104⸱DImplementation
Materials
For 1 ha:
104⸱1Procedure
104⸱2
It is not necessary to hang a bottle on each coffee plant. Ideally, there should be at least one trap for every 30 coffee plants. In Brazil, due to the high density of coffee plantations, it is recommended that traps be placed at a height of one meter above the ground, between rows of coffee trees, and spaced approximately every 50 meters. However, the more traps, the better. In cases of high infestation, insect counts should be performed more frequently, every 3 days or, at most, weekly, to monitor captures and perform trap maintenance.
104⸱3
104⸱EEconomic benefits
Lower pesticide costs
This tool reduces the demand for chemical pesticides and therefore saves input costs over time.
Reduction of losses
This tool can prevent losses in coffee yield and quality.
104⸱FGreen benefits
Less pesticides needed
This tool reduces the need for chemical pesticides. This reduces water pollution, protects the ecosystem, improves soil life, and saves resources.