Exciting insights from our training farm Santa Rita Speciality Coffee. We are experimenting with organic countermeasures against broca, among other things. Recently, our on-site partner and agronomist Roberto Castellano explained the following method to us:
An effective measure against broca is a product called Biomix, a combination of two different fungi that have the potential to parasitize broca (Hypothenemus hampei). The two fungi are called Beauveria bassiana and Metarizum. During application, each plant and each fruit is treated. The process of infection of the borer occurs in three phases.
1. Contact of spores with the outer skin of the insect and germination
2. Penetration of the outer skin of the insect
3. Development of the fungus inside the insect, which ultimately results in death.
Beauveria bassiana is used in various areas of organic farming as an organic insecticide. The fungus is excellently suited to control arthropods of all kinds. Beauveria bassiana is not toxic to farm workers and has minimal impact on non-target insects (1).
This method can also be successfully applied to fallen cherries on the ground. Keep in mind: the coffee borer preferentially infects ripe and overripe cherries.
