Which of the following insects is commonly a pest in coffee plantations?

The coffee borer beetle is widely recognized as a significant pest in coffee plantations. This small insect can cause substantial damage to coffee crops by tunneling into the coffee cherries and attacking the seeds, which can lead to a reduction in yield and quality. The females lay their eggs inside the cherry, and as the larvae develop, they feed on the seed, making it more susceptible to fungal infections. Understanding the impact of the coffee borer beetle is crucial for managing coffee production effectively, as integrated pest management strategies must be employed to mitigate its effects on the coffee plants.

Other insects like butterflies, ladybugs, and dragonflies do not play a similar role in harming coffee plants. While butterflies are primarily pollinators and ladybugs are beneficial predators of pests like aphids, dragonflies are natural predators of many other flying insects. Therefore, they do not present the same direct threat to coffee crops as the coffee borer beetle does.