Phidotricha erigens

Larvae distinguished by prominent dorsal medial longitudinal stripe from prothorax to abdomen tip. Adults identified by small size (~14 mm wingspan), light gray forewings with black spotting and transverse line patterns. Differentiated from Cryptoblabes gnidiella by larval coloration and adult wing pattern; molecular or genital dissection may be required for definitive separation.

Commercial coffee plantations in tropical rainy climate (Aw Köppen classification). Documented at approximately 277 m elevation with annual rainfall 2,250 mm, mean temperature 26°C, and 85% relative humidity. Found in fields with multiple Robusta coffee genotypes.

Rondônia state, Brazil (Rolim de Moura, Novo Horizonte do Oeste). Previously recorded from Puerto Rico (type locality, 1888), Colombia, and Peru.

Larvae present from flower bud emergence through fruit establishment (pinhead berry to rapid expansion stage). Absent from coffee trees February through June in Rondônia. Population outbreaks occur suddenly during susceptible crop phenological stages.

Flower buds, flowers, peduncles of flower buds and fruits, and developing fruits at pinhead berry and rapid expansion stages. Larvae feed on reproductive structures of coffee plants.

• Coffea canephora - pestAmazonian Robusta coffee, primary host in Rondônia
• Coffea arabica - pestpreviously recorded host
• Coffea sp. - pestgeneral coffee host association
• Zea mays - pestmaize, from prior literature
• Sorghum bicolor - pestsorghum, from prior literature
• Phaseolus lunatus - pestlima beans, from prior literature

Five larval instars. Larval development coincides with coffee reproductive phenology from flower bud emergence to early fruit development. Pupation details not documented. Not found in coffee trees during February-June period in Rondônia, suggesting seasonal population dynamics related to host plant availability.

Larvae feed concealed within coffee flower and fruit clusters. Population outbreaks appear suddenly and can predominate over sympatric Cryptoblabes gnidiella in some locations.

Primary pest causing direct damage to coffee reproductive structures. Economic losses result from consumption of flowers and young fruits leading to premature fruit drop. Predominant rosette caterpillar species in some Rondônia coffee areas.

Agricultural pest of economic significance in Amazonian Robusta coffee production. First world record as coffee pest established in 2024. Damage to reproductive structures reduces yield. Management requires monitoring during susceptible crop stages.

• Cryptoblabes gnidiellaCo-occurring rosette caterpillar in Rondônia coffee with similar damage symptoms; distinguished by larval morphology and adult wing patterns

• pest
• coffee
• agriculture
• Pyralidae
• Lepidoptera
• Rondônia
• Brazil
• Robusta coffee

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• First record of Phidotricha erigens (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as a pest in coffee plants in the world and Cryptoblabes gnidiella (Millière, 1867) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Amazonian Robusta in Brazil1