The population growth of coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari, 1867) in a coffee plantation, Coffea arabica L., located in Lavras county, Minas Gerais State, Brazil was evaluated from January 1997 to June 1997. The objective of this research was to study the population dynamics of this borer, during a season, in the coffee plantation. Therefore, 1500 m² of a coffee crop with the Catuaí Amarelo cultivar were evaluated. The coffee fruits were monthly collected and examined for the presence of adults and immature stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) of H. hampei and its parasitoids. In another coffee plantation area, located in Ijaci - MG and cultivated with Mundo Novo, Catuaí Vermelho and Catuaí Amarelo cultivars, one sampling was made at the harvest time in order to determine the percentage of fruits damaged by coffee berry borer damaged per tree in different maturation stages. During the season, parasitoids were not found in association with H. hampei. Rainfall was possibly the factor which contributed to the low coffee berry borer population in the area. In the second trial area, the coffee berry borer showed preference for red fruits rather than yellow ones.
Insecta; coffee plantation; Coffea arabica; abiotic factor
