Don't say Beetlejuice three times at a coffee plantation!

Beetles can be the “Beetlejuice” of the coffee world—troublesome little pests that wreak havoc on the beloved coffee beans. Just like in the movie "Beetlejuice," where the mischievous character causes chaos wherever he goes, the coffee borer beetle does the same to coffee plantations. This tiny beetle, also known as the Hypothenemus hampei, is a nightmare for coffee farmers. Much like Beetlejuice invading the Maitland home in the first instalment of the moive, these beetles invade the coffee cherries, boring deep into them and laying eggs. The larvae then feed on the coffee beans, rendering them useless.

In the film, Beetlejuice is a persistent nuisance, difficult to get rid of, and the same goes for these beetles. Once they infest a coffee plantation, it can be challenging to manage and eradicate them. Their ability to reproduce quickly makes them even more formidable, like a never-ending “three times the trouble” scenario. Farmers must employ integrated pest management techniques, much like trying different strategies to outwit Beetlejuice, to keep these beetles at bay. They use methods like traps, biological control agents, and careful monitoring. Just as the Maitlands find a way to handle Beetlejuice, coffee farmers strive to keep these pests from ruining their crops.