Best time and doses to associate chemical and biological control of the coffee berry borer in highland region, Brazil

Abstract

The coffee berry borer (CBB) Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) causes significant damage to yield and quality of coffee beans. Cultural measures are important however, chemical and biological control must be adopted within an integrated CBB management system in order to prevent its damage mainly in larger areas. This study aimed to evaluate different doses and times of spray of the chemical insecticide metaflumizone and its association to the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana as a tool to the management of CBB in Arabica coffee. The study was carried out in a high dense crop of Arabica coffee cultivar Catuaí Vermelho at 700 m altitude in the highlands of Espírito Santo state, Brazil. The experimental design used was randomized blocks with eleven treatments, four replications and plots of ten plants. Seven evaluations were carried out by sampling the berries in the upper, middle and two sides of the coffee trees. Metaflumizone at a total dose of 3.5 L ha-1 showed high performance for the control of CBB under field conditions in regions of high altitude. The association of metaflumizone with B. bassiana reduced a mean of 88.5% the infestation level of CBB in the post-harvested coffee beans and it can be used as one of the tools for the Integrated Management of CBB under field conditions. Beauveria bassiana can be associated with metaflumizone to control CBB as a complementary spray in March and at a dose of 2.0 kg ha-1 and should be also used in the Integrated Management of CBB. The monitoring of CBB population must be carried out and the first spraying with chemical or biological insecticide must be started at the recommended control level and in the transit season of CBB when flying adults are exposed.