The use of plant varieties can affect the presence and extent of pest attacks. Resistant varieties will cause a lower attack rate compared to susceptible varieties. It is not yet known which varieties of maize are resistant to Fall armyworm (S. frugiperda) (FAW) in the field, because this pest is an invasive pest and entered Indonesia one year ago. Research has been carried out to study the distribution, population, and level of S. frugiperda attack on maize varieties planted by farmers in the field. The research was conducted at the first location this pest was reported in West Pasaman district, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Survey on farmers’ corn with a sampling method: purposive random sampling. Samples were taken from different varieties of corn and showed signs of S. frugiperda attack. Observations were made on the varieties planted by farmers, symptoms, larvae population, and S. frugiperda attack rate. The results of the observations were that several trademarks of maize varieties grown by farmers were: Pioneer 32, Pertiwi, Bisi 18, NK7328, and NK212. The symptoms of this pest attack were the same for all varieties of maize, while the attack rate was significantly different at the 5% level. The attack rate ranged from 6.0 to 96.0%. The lowest attack percentage was on variety Bisi18, and the highest was on variety NK212. The population of S. frugiperda larvae was found in all varieties of maize with an average of 0.70 larvae per stem.

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Maize [Zea mays] is the third most important cereal crop in Asian countries after rice and wheat. In Indonesia, maize is the second food crop after rice. One of the main problems in corn cultivation is pests. Spodoptera frugiperda [Lepidoptera: Noctuidae] is the major pest of maize and polyphagous insect pest attacking more than 80 crops. This study aims to determine the occurrence of heavy by the S. frugiperda in West Pasaman District, West Sumatra. The research method used in this study was a survey or sampling. The results showed that there was a severe attack of a new invasive pest, S. frugiperda on maize crops in West Pasaman. The attack rate of S. frugiperda in West Pasaman District was classified as high, reaching 100.00% at the age of 40 days after planting. Maize was severely damaged in the early stages phase vegetative of maize [approximately 40 days after planting], with 100% of maize infested and each plant was occupied by one until two medium or large larvae. Its means, the vegetative phase is a phase that is vulnerable to the S. frugiperda attack of maize. The high intensity of S. frugiperda attacks is also caused by several factors, like variety, spacing, types of plants around maize fields, and when farmers used pest and disease control techniques. Even a severe attack can cause the maize to fail to grow. This new invasive pest can threaten maize production in Indonesia. Therefore, further research is needed regarding this new invasive pest, S. frugiperda.

There is a high diversity of bees in the tropics, including honey bees and stingless bees, which are the main sources for honey and other ecosystem services. In Indonesia, beekeeping practices have been developed for centuries, and they have been part of many cultural practices in many traditional communities. The objective of this research was to study the beekeeping status and managed bee diversity in Indonesia and to investigate beekeepers’ perspectives on the factors and obstacles related to beekeeping. Direct interview and online interview were conducted to gain data on bees and beekeepers. In total, 272 beekeepers were interviewed across 25 provinces. Samplings of honey bees and stingless bees were also done during direct interviews for further identification and, when possible, pollen identification. All data and specimens were then sent to IPB Bogor for compilation and identification. We recorded 22 species of bees, including 3 species of honey bees and 19 species of stingless bees, that are reared by Indonesian beekeepers, with Apis cerana and Tetragonula laeviceps as the most common species. Our research also found that the majority of beekeepers fall into the category of the younger generation (30–39 years old) with educational background mostly from senior high school. Based on the beekeepers’ perspectives, there are several obstacles to beekeeping, especially the occurrence of death of bee foragers attributed to climate, food source, and pesticides. In conclusion, there is a need to develop a strategy for beekeeping and bee conservation in Indonesia, especially for adaptation and mitigation from environmental changes with a particular focus on climate and land-use change.

Abstract. Nelly N, Syahrawati M, Hamid H. 2017. Abundance of corn planthopper (Stenocranus pacificus) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and the potential natural enemies in West Sumatra,. A study about the abundance of corn planthopper Stenocranus pacificus and diversity of it's potential natural enemies in West Sumatra, Indonesia was conducted from July until October 2016 in Pasaman Barat, Limapuluh Kota and Tanah Datar. The method was purposive random technique sampling. Sampling Stenocranus pacificus Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) and it's potential natural enemies were collected by using a modified d-vac vacuum. The Identification was done based on morphological differences between species. The result showed that corn planthopper was found in all study location, as well as natural enemies could be found in the vegetative and generative phase of corn. The distribution pattern of corn planthopper, S. pacificus generally was aggregated, except on the vegetative phase in Pasaman Barat that classified as uniform. The natural enemies that found consist of two class (Insects and Arachnids) and three ordo (Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Araneae). Diversity index (H) of natural enemies in Pasaman Barat is higher than Tanah Datar and Limapuluh Kota district. Evenness index at all study locations showed low value (E<1).