Occurrence and management of Helicoverpa armigera in coffee

A Helicoverpa armigera It is an insect/pest of enormous global importance in agricultural crops, with large amounts being used to control it. In Brazil, in the last two years, this pest has caused damage to cotton, corn, soybeans, beans, tomatoes and sorghum crops. The damage comes from their diet, preferably from the plants' reproductive structures (flower buds, fruits, apples, ears and inflorescences), causing deformations, rot and falls. In the 2012 harvest, a major outbreak in crops occurred in the western region of Bahia, with losses of up to 80% in cotton crops. In the same harvest, other crops, whether transgenic or not, such as corn and soybeans, also suffered severe losses. In the 2013 harvest there were again outbreaks of this pest, which reached the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso, leading to the emergency release of a series of insecticide products to control it.

In the coffee culture, there were no reports of the occurrence of Helicoverpa armigera in crops in any producing region. The first observation was made only recently, in September 2013, during the pre-flowering period, in the western region of Bahia. At Fazenda Olinda, in Luiz Eduardo Magalhães, the insect/pest was found attacking flowers, fruits in the “chumbinho” stage, tips and new leaves (1st and 2nd pairs) in the coffee crop. Technician Marcos Alvarenga went to the location and found the pest and recorded the action and behavior of the insect/pest through photos.

In the photos you can see the type of damage to the coffee tree. The caterpillar attack causes perforations, reductions in leaf area, damage to the tips of branches, attack on buds and coffee fruits in the pellet stage.

The occurrence must now be observed, with a view to verifying the evolution and adaptation of the helicoverpa to this new culture, coffee, previously unknown. Most likely, the caterpillars migrated from other crops in the region, attacking behavior temporarily or permanently. In principle, it is not yet possible to assess whether the attack was just occasional or whether the pest could also adapt to the coffee plant.

The objective of this technical note is to report the occurrence and symptoms of attack, so that technicians involved in coffee growing can begin to pay attention to its possible attack on other crops in the region and in other coffee growing areas of the country.

Click here to read the article in issue 179 of Cultivar Grandes Culturas.