Damage Caused by

Cocoa Pod Borer

It is the damage the larvae causes by feeding on the cocoa pod that makes the cocoa pod borer as major pest. The feeding causes the beans to ripen prematurely and stink together reducing bean quality and uniformity. It also cause the pulp to become hard disrupting the fermentation process used to produce the cocoa flavor profile. In addition, if the larvae enter a young pod they can feed on the beans and cause major damage.

 

It can cause damage to other host plants, such as rambutan, by tunneling through leaves, steams, and even fruits. 

 

In 1860, the first reports of damage cause by the cocoa pod borer was reported. This is about the time cocoa was induced to the Asian Pacific area for production.

[24-26, Photo 37]