Primer reporte de Leucoptera coffeella afectando Coffea canephora en el caribe húmedo colombiano

The coffee crop is affected by pests that limit its production, among these the coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeella) stands out causing severe defoliation in the trees and yield losses above 50%. The objective of this research was to identify the insect and characterize the associated damage in canephora coffee plants (Coffea canephora) established in the field under free sun exposure in observation plots of the Turipaná-Agrosavia Research Center. 30 trees were randomly selected to evaluate three opposite branches of their middle thirds. The total number of leaves and the number of leaves with mines for each selected branch were recorded, and the percentage of mined leaves calculated. In addition, leaves with presence of pupae of the insect were taken to the lab for adult raisin. The results of the taxonomic identification corroborated the presence of Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera:Lyonetiidae) in canephora coffee. The damage observed was: irregularly shaped and enlarged mines, yellow or light green and brown circular brown spots with a part of the yellow edge associated with insect postures and white pupae. This information generates the first report of this pest in canephora coffee trees in the humid Colombian Caribbean, and can be used as a base for continuing research into strategies for the Integrated Management in this crop that is projected as a different productive alternative for farmers in the Caribbean region.