#105Coffee Berry Borer traps
105⸱AConcept
- Protects coffee trees from pests
- Increases the coffee yield
This bottle trap is highly effective in fighting the Coffee Berry Borer (CBB). It is composed of a transparent plastic bottle with soapy water, a smaller pharmaceutical bottle filled with ethanol, methanol, or commercially available CBB attractant, 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 Coffee Berry Borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, or la broca in Spanish, is reported to be the most serious and widespread insect pest of coffee. As a result of global warming, CBB is now also infesting coffee cherries in the highlands above 1200 m. Therefore, it is found in almost all coffee-growing regions. The resulting coffee yield reduction of 30-35 % and the quality reduction cause immense commercial losses.
The female beetle drills a tunnel from the tip of the coffee cherry down into the bean and lays around 70 eggs into it. This attack can happen in the time of eight weeks after the flowering until the harvest. The hatched larvae feed on the coffee bean. It causes the beans to fall off or rot as the damaged cherry can easily be infected by bacteria and fungi.
105⸱BTo be considered
Fighting the CBB 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 CBB:
- Improve plant nutrition through measures for soil fertility (e.g. through Biochar or Compost).
- Regular inspections of the coffee plants to identify infested cherries.
- Phytosanitary measures such as regular picking of cherries and cleaning up the ground from fallen cherries. Fallen or infested cherries should be burnt or buried in the soil to kill the CBB larvae.
- Pruning and de-suckering to avoid bushiness.
- Planting of shade trees recommended by research institutions (see Companion trees tool). 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.
Timing: The traps are a permanent measure. They should be installed at the beginning of the rainy season and cleaned and refilled every 2 weeks. When the bottles wear out, they can be replaced.
105⸱CImplementation
Materials
For 1 ha:
105⸱1Procedure
Bottle trap
105⸱2
Bottle trap
105⸱3
Bottle trap
It is not necessary to hang a bottle on every coffee tree. Ideally, it is at least 1 trap for 30 coffee trees. However, the more traps there are, the better.
105⸱4
105⸱DEconomic benefits
Lower pesticide costs
This tool reduces the demand for pesticides and therefore saves input costs over time.
Reduction of losses
This tool can prevent losses in coffee yield and quality.
105⸱EGreen benefits
Less pesticides needed
This tool reduces the need for pesticides. This reduces water pollution, protects the ecosystem, improves soil life, and saves resources.