Status of Antestia Bugs (Antestiopsis intricate Pentatomidae, Hemimptera) in southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

Coffee is a major cash crop for Ethiopia, but coffee productivity in Ethiopia is low compared to
many coffee-producing countries and damage by pests and diseases are among the main
constraints, which reduce coffee yield. Antestia bug is one of the major coffee pests affecting
coffee productions in Ethiopia. The current study assessed the status of antestia bugs in 12
districts of the Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regions (SNNPR) in
the southwestern Ethiopia in 2017/2018 cropping year. The sample sizes were thirty coffee trees
per farmer, five farmers per Farmers’ Association and three Farmers Associations in each
district. The antestia bugs were counted in each tree and hundred ripe berries were sampled from
each tree and sorted to beans with darkening and clean beans. Three stage nested designs and
correlation analyses were used for data analyses. Infestations were higher at districts o f Ale (0.87
bugs/tree), Shabe Sombo (0.82 bugs/tree) and Mettu (0.41 bugs/tree), low at Sheko (0.03
bugs/tree), while no record was made at Gurra Farda, Debub Bench. Similarly, the highest
percent number of bean damage was recorded at Ale district (1.20%), followed by Shabe Sombo
(0.86%) and Mettu (0.62%). The study showed that antestia bugs infestation and coffee bean
damage increased with altitude (y = 0.005x - 0.428, r = 0.358), level o f coffee shade. Forest and
plantation coffee production systems had the lowest antestia bug infestations and bean damages,
while garden and semi-forest coffee had the highest. Local coffee varieties had higher antestia
bug infestation and bean damage than the improved varieties, which are usually grown under
better agronomic practices, including shade and canopy management and protection of pests with
pesticides. The population of antestia (0 - 0.87 per tree) in most of the study area was below the
economic threshold level of one to two bugs per tree. Studies are suggested on the seasonal
abundance, effect of microclimate, natural enemies and management practices on the population
dynamics of the pest, and the economics of antestia bugs in the major coffee growing areas of the
country.