Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Editor

The state Board of Agriculture on Tuesday approved general use and importation of two pesticides to help control the coffee berry borer beetle.

The board OK’d use of the pesticides that contain a fungus known to smother the bean-eating beetle. Although it is called a pesticide, the substance will not compromise organic crops, as the fungus occurs naturally in Hawaii’s soil.

Approved were Bontanigard ES and Mycotrol O, both of which contain Beauveria bassiana strain GHA.

The pesticides, already approved for use in the 49 other states, could be available as soon as next week.

Farmers still are encouraged to clear their fields of all beans and set up traps to catch and kill the beetle, which bores into beans and lays its eggs there.

Farmers were concerned the beetle, if left unchecked, could devastate the Kona coffee crop.