Effects of Cropping Systems and Fruit Maturity on Infestation and Internal Population of Coffee Berry Borer in Arabica Coffee

Abstract

The coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei, remains the most destructive pest affecting Arabica coffee production in Indonesia. While its general biology is well-known, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding how different agro-ecosystems and host maturity stages influence the pest’s internal population dynamics and reproductive fitness. This study aims to evaluate the interplay between three cropping systems (monoculture, coffee-orange intercropping, and coffee-vegetable intercropping) and fruit maturity stages (green, yellow, and red) on CBB infestation levels and its internal life stages. The research was conducted
from December 2021 to Februari 2022 in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. A total of 1 kg of coffee berries per replicate was collected and all bored berries were dissected under a stereomicroscope to quantify eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. Data were analyzed using Generalized Linear Models (GLM) and Tukey’s HSD test. Results indicated that the monoculture system recorded the highest infestation levels, while the coffee-orange intercropping significantly reduced borer pressure, which may be associated with increased habitat complexity and possible olfactory interference. Green berries appeared less suitable for larval development, characterized by high adult penetration but failed larval development due to insufficient endosperm hardness. These findings underscore the importance of habitat complexity and timely harvesting as critical components of site-specific Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to disrupt the CBB life cycle in the Indonesian highlands.