Arabica coffee arthropod pests and their management: Current status and future prospective

Abstract

Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) is one of the most important commodities that is cultivated in various agro-ecologies of Ethiopia. The perennial and evergreen nature of the coffee favors attack by several insects, diseases, mites, and some gastropods such as snails and slugs. All parts of the plants are susceptible to be attacked, and damage could appear at different crop growth stages. Coffee insects damage seedling, reduce coffee yield and quality. Many insects found in coffee agroforestry system are not pests; many are even beneficial as they feed upon the coffee pest species. Worldwide over 3000 insects and mites are associated with coffee. In Ethiopia, more than 59 arthropod pests have been identified and documented in coffee from 1966 till the present. From identified arabica coffee arthropods in the country around 30.51% are Hemiptera order whereas 28.81% are Lepidoptera order. Glasshouse orthezia (Insignorthezia insignis), mealybugs (Planococcus spp. and Pseudococcus spp.) and greenhouse whiteflies (Trialeurodes spp.) are the pest currently recorded in Ethiopia. Besides, due to changing farm dynamics from time to time and current climate change, some previously uncommon pests are appearing and discussed in this review. Coffee insect pests are more problematic in coffee plantation system. Pesticide-free pest management options under changing climatic conditions are crucial. As future prospective, it is very important to conserve natural enemies through the diversification in the coffee farms. In future, identifying the impacts of climate change on coffee associated insect species, and mass rearing and release of natural control agents could allow for the sustainable production in Ethiopia. Therefore, this review presents the past, current status of coffee arthropod pests and their management options in Ethiopia.