ABIOTIC MORTALITY FACTORS OF THE COFFEE BERRY BORER (HYPOTHENEMUS-HAMPEI)

Mortality of the coffee berry borer was studied under controlled labor atory conditions in Tapachula, Mexico. For adult female borers subject ed to a range of relative humidities (RH) without food at 25 degrees C , the longest mean survival time (20 days) was obtained at 93.5% RH. A dult borer survival was also studied at a range of temperatures for a fixed relative humidity (93.5% RH); at 20 degrees C mean survival time was 28 days. Fecundity and mortality of borer stages in berries was s tudied for a range of humidities at 25 degrees C. Maximum fecundity wa s obtained at 90 and 93.5% RH. Immature stages were ejected from the b erry at 84% RH and above, which is interpreted as a form of brood hygi ene.