Influence of wood fragments in the incidence of “bicho mineiro” (Leucoptera coffeella) in coffee plantations

Abstract

This work aims to assess if the presence of wood fragments near to crops has influence in
the incidence of the most common coffee pest, known as bicho-mineiro (Leucoptera coffeella).
The study was carried out in a sampling structure 4 x 3, being four coffee plantations and
three sample distances (30, 100, 170m of the closest forest fragment) with four repetitions.
The incidence was valued by sampling leaves retrieved from the coffee plants in each sample
unity. There were no interactions between the factors in study (coffee plantations and forest
distances. The incidence of L. coffeella was not differed between the different coffee plantations
sampled, but differed between the distances of the wood (p < 0,001), being smaller in the
distance of 30 m in relation to the others. The proximity of the crops to the forest fragments
influence, therefore, in a positive way in the agroecological management of the insect probably
due to the increment in the diversification of the environment.