Role of ants as natural enemies of coffee berry borer in a colombian coffee landscape

The role of the landscape where the crops are immersed seems to interact with local crop management practices to regulate pest control by natural enemies. At a local scale, ant assemblages in coffee crops are known to exert an important control over the coffee berry borer bug (main coffee pest). However, the effect of landscape composition and configuration on natural control by ants still poorly understood.
For my PhD research, we look to understand the contribution of ants to natural control of coffee berry borer bug in a Colombian coffee landscape. To do this, we will assess the interaction of local scale factors (i.e. presence of tree shade) and landscape scale factors (i.e. proportion of natural habitats, coffee and grassland surrounding the crop) in shaping fruit attacks by the pest and its natural control by ants.
We expect the results of this research allow us to 1) identify crop scenarios where natural pest control by ants can be enhanced, 2) make management recommendations to small farm holders under a landscape approach. We also look to contribute with useful information for coffee landscapes design where ecosystem services can be augmented through management of the biodiversity.