Biological control of Hypothenemus hampei by Crematogaster quadriformis

Ants use environmental volatiles to organize themselves as a society and to forage, and they are attracted by the odors of food. Some species of ants have been reported acting as natural enemies of the coffee borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), an important pest for coffee growing worldwide. In coffee trees, in addition to predatory ants, it is possible to find lacewings, such as Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), that act on the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). As ants of genus Crematogaster have already been recorded preying on the coffee borer, the objective of this work was to evaluate the role of Crematogaster quadriformis Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Hypothenemus hampei and its interference with the natural enemy Chrysoperla externa, in addition to evaluate the ant’s attractiveness to fruits at different stages of maturation, infested and not infested by the coffee berry borer. The attack of ants on individuals of the coffee borer and lacewings, and their attraction to coffee fruit volatiles, were investigated in controlled conditions. Crematogaster quadriformis showed potential as natural enemy against the coffee borer berry, but also caused intraguild predation, indicating it could interfere with the lacewing’s role as a natural enemy. The ants were attracted to ripe coffee berries, but were unable to distinguish infested from non-infested berries.