Several Arthropod pests have been collected and identified on coffee, Coffea arabica. L. in Ethiopia, but only a few are economically important. Based on the plant part the pests feed on, they can be categorized as flower and flower bud feeders, leaf feeders, berry (fruit) feeders, twig and branch feeders borers and stem (trunk) borers.
Antestia, Antestiopsis intricata (Ghesquiere) Carayon and blotch leafminer, Leucoptera Caffeina (Washbourn) are the two most important pests feeding mainly on young fruits and leaves respectively.
Studies made regarding biology, feeding habits, population dynamics and natural enemies (parasitoids and predators) of Antestia are described. The buildup of this insect starts in March and reaches its peak around May/June although slight variations have been observed in various coffee growing areas. Young berries are the most preferred part of the plant. Antestia eggs 45–50% are attacked mainly by three species of parasistoids of which Asolcus suranus (Nixon) was found to be the most important.
