The presence of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, in Puerto Rico: fact or fiction?

The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), is widely considered to be the most devastating pest of coffee. Endemic to Central Africa, the coffee berry borer can now be found in most coffee growing regions throughout the world (Le Pelley 1968). Annual losses caused by this insect have been estimated at over $500 million annually (P. Baker, CABI Bioscience, UK; personal communication). One of the most widely cited references on coffee berry borer presence in different countries is that of Le Pelley (1968), where more than 20 countries, including Puerto Rico, are listed as having the insect.