ALLOZYME VARIATION AND AN ESTIMATE OF THE INBREEDING COEFFICIENT IN THE COFFEE BERRY BORER, HYPOTHENEMUS-HAMPEI (COLEOPTERA, SCOLYTIDAE)

Seven presumed Mendelian enzyme loci (Est-2, Est-3, Gpi, Idh-1, Idh-2, Mdh-2 and Mpi) were characterized and tested for polymorphism in coff ee berry borers, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari), sampled in Gate d'Ivoi re, Mexico and New Caledonia. The average genetic diversity was H=0.08 0. Two loci, Mdh-2 and Mpi were polymorphic, and thus usable as geneti c markers. The population structure of H. hampei was analysed using We ir & Cockerham's estimators of Wright's F-statistics. A high degree of inbreeding (f=0.298) characterized the elementary geographic sampling unit, the coffee field. The estimate of gene flow between fields with in a country was Nm=10.6 and that between countries was Nm=2. The popu lation genetic structure in H. hampei could be related to its known po pulation biological features and history.