Molecular Markers Detect Cryptic Predation on Coffee Berry Borer (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) by Silvanid and Laemophloeid Flat Bark Beetles (Coleoptera: Silvanidae, Laemophloeidae) in Coffee Beans.
The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a serious pest of coffee worldwide. It was first detected in Hawai'i in 2010. Two predatory beetles, Cathartus quadricollis (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) and Leptophloeus sp. (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae), have been observed in H. hampei-infested coffee. Under laboratory conditions, colony-reared C. quadricollis and Leptophloeus sp. prey upon all life stages of H. hampei. However, the H. hampei life cycle occurs almost exclusively within a coffee bean obscured from direct observation. Thus, it is unknown if C. quadricollis and Leptophloeus sp. consume H. hampei as prey in the wild. To demonstrate predation of H. hampei by C. quadricollis and Leptophloeus sp., a molecular assay was developed utilizing species-specific primers targeting short regions of the mitochondrial COI gene to determine species presence. Using these primers, wild C. quadricollis and Leptophloeus sp. were collected and screened for the presence of H. hampei DNA using PCR. Analysis of collections from five coffee farms revealed predation of C. quadricollis and Leptophloeus sp. on H. hampei. Further laboratory testing showed that H. hampei DNA could be detected in predators for as long as 48 h after feeding, indicating the farm-caught predators had preyed on H. hampei within 2 d of sampling. This study demonstrates the utility of molecular markers for the study of the ecology of predators and prey with cryptic behavior, and suggests C. quadricollis and Leptophloeus sp. might be useful biocontrol agents against H. hampei.
USDA-ARS, Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, 64 Nowelo St., Hilo, HI 96720, (ssim8@hawaii.edu; nicole.yoneishi@ars.usda.gov; eva.brill@ars.usda.gov; scott.geib@ars.usda.gov; peter.follett@ars.usda.gov), Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Manoa, 3050 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822 and peter.follett@ars.usda.gov.
Sheina B
SB
Sim
USDA-ARS, Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, 64 Nowelo St., Hilo, HI 96720, (ssim8@hawaii.edu; nicole.yoneishi@ars.usda.gov; eva.brill@ars.usda.gov; scott.geib@ars.usda.gov; peter.follett@ars.usda.gov).
Nicole M
NM
Yoneishi
USDA-ARS, Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, 64 Nowelo St., Hilo, HI 96720, (ssim8@hawaii.edu; nicole.yoneishi@ars.usda.gov; eva.brill@ars.usda.gov; scott.geib@ars.usda.gov; peter.follett@ars.usda.gov).
Eva
E
Brill
USDA-ARS, Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, 64 Nowelo St., Hilo, HI 96720, (ssim8@hawaii.edu; nicole.yoneishi@ars.usda.gov; eva.brill@ars.usda.gov; scott.geib@ars.usda.gov; peter.follett@ars.usda.gov).
Scott M
SM
Geib
USDA-ARS, Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, 64 Nowelo St., Hilo, HI 96720, (ssim8@hawaii.edu; nicole.yoneishi@ars.usda.gov; eva.brill@ars.usda.gov; scott.geib@ars.usda.gov; peter.follett@ars.usda.gov), peter.follett@ars.usda.gov.
Peter A
PA
Follett
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D040503:Coffea / Q000254:growth & development; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D020387:Food Chain; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D048889:Weevils / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D019476:Insect Proteins
coffee berry borer, predator–prey interaction, biocontrol, silvanid flat bark beetle, laemophloeid flat bark beetle