Evaluating Beauveria Bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Strain Gha and a Micronutrient Amendment Product for Hypothenemus Hampei (Ferrari) Management at Small Scales

Abstract

Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the primary insect pest of coffee in the Hawaiian Islands. Management recommendations for H. hampei are established, but it is unknown whether applications of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) strain GHA are effective on extremely small farm plots when surrounded by unmanaged coffee. In addition, some Hawaiʻi coffee farmers that use other farm management products have anecdotally noted effects on H. hampei. A field experiment using three-tree plots was established to determine if H. hampei suppression with B. bassiana can be achieved on small scales with unmanaged and feral coffee nearby, and if the untested mineral-based fertilizer product, BAM-FX ® , in use by some coffee farmers for H. hampei management, was associated with reduced infestation relative to control. Significant differences were found between water-, B. bassiana-, and BAM-FX ® -treated plots, however B. bassiana treatment resulted in the lowest coffee cherry infestation (31.1%) and bean damage (10.8%). Although damage was not below economically viable levels, B. bassiana suppressed H. hampei in small plots.