Cacao trees, just like humans, have diseases and pests that damage and kill the trees. Here are a few of the things that would cause the cacao tree to have a nightmare, if cacao trees could dream, or sleep, but I suppose that I are getting beside the point.

            Cacao trees are very susceptible to pod rots caused by the fungus Phytophthora. It spreads quickly on pods when there is excessive rain and humidity, insufficient sunshine, and temperatures below 21°C (70°F). Other fungal diseases that hurt Cacao are witches’ broom and monilia pod rot. Around 30% of the world’s cocoa crops are destroyed by fungal diseases. Witches’ broom is especially harmful as it causes up to a 90% loss of a cocoa crop by attacking the meristematic tissues, and young pods. A viral disease transmitted to the plant by mealybugs is called swollen shoot. It has devastated Ghanaian and Nigerian Cacao trees. Other bugs that cause damage are true bugs (heteropterans), thrips, scale insects, and the cocoa pod borer. There is over 1,500 different species of insects known to feed on cocoa, but only a handful of species give long-term concern. The rest barely harm the tree.