Sprays of malathion and fenitrothion were used for the control of antestia bugs (Antestiopsisspp.), from 1961–74, in order to assess the effect of these insects on the yield and quality of smallholder arabica coffee in Bugisu district Uganda. Insecticide application nearly always gave economically worthwhile increases in yield of coffee cherry but these were not usually significant, except when the mean population of antestia was about two per tree or higher. Spraying also reduced the percentage of badly damaged beans and improved the yield from coffee cherry of good dry beans. Two or three sprays of fenitrothion 50% e.c. at 1.1l/ha were no more effective than a single spray in February but antestia populations were low in these particular trials.