Antestiopsis is a genus of shield bug in the tribe Antestiini: commonly known as antestia or variegated coffee bugs. Several species in eastern Africa are pests of coffee plants, giving the coffee beans a distinctive 'potato taste'.
More than one species is known to be a pest of coffee crops, including A. orbitalis.[1] The 'potato taste' caused by Antestiopsis attacks is thought to be caused indirectly by bacteria entering through wounds created by the insects, leading to an increase in the concentration of isopropyl methoxy pyrazine.[2][3] They feed on flowers, berries and growing tips, injecting a toxic saliva that often contains the spores of the Ashbya fungus, and then suck juices out.[4]
Historically, Antestiopsis has been controlled in Kenya using pyrethrum powder (and may still be used for organic production).[5] Subsequently, the organophosphatefenthion was used to control the pest in Burundi,[2] but this is no longer permitted for important markets such as the European Union.
^Czerny, M.; Grosch, W. (2000). "Potent Odorants of Raw Arabica Coffee. Their Changes during Roasting". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 48 (3): 868–872. doi:10.1021/jf990609n. PMID10725165.
^Jean Nicholas Wintgens (2009). "Coffee Pests in Africa". Coffee: Growing, Processing, Sustainable Production (2nd ed.). pp. 433–435. ISBN978-3-527-32286-2.
^Crowe, T. J.; Jones, G. D. Glynne; Williamson, Ruth (2009). "The use of pyrethrum formulations to control Antestiopsis on coffee in East Africa". Bulletin of Entomological Research. 52: 31–41. doi:10.1017/S0007485300055267.
^Mendesil, Esayas; Tadesse, Mekuria; Negash, Merid (2011). "Efficacy of plant essential oils against two major insect pests of coffee (Coffee berry borer,Hypothenemus hampei, and antestia bug,Antestiopsis intricata) and maize weevil,Sitophilus zeamais". Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection. 45 (3): 366–372. doi:10.1080/03235408.2011.587286. S2CID84439876.