Diversity and Abundance of Natural Enemies of Helopeltis antonii in Cocoa Plantation Related with Plant Pattern and Insecticide Application

Abstract

Natural enemy is an important factor in management of cacao pests. One way to increase its diversity and abundance is through agroecosystem management techniques that support. The study was conducted for one year from February 2014 to February 2015 in Banjarsari Plantation and a cocoa farm of Kaliwining Experimental Station, Jember, which applied different cropping patterns and use of insecticides. The purpose of this research was to study the effect of cropping pattern and use of insecticide on diversity and abundance of predators, parasitoids, abundance and intensity of Helopeltis antonii attack. Observation of pests and natural enemies was done visually, using sweep net, yellow pan traps, malaise trap and pifall trap. Intensity of the attack used Pedigo & Buntin equations. Diversity index used Shannon Diversity Index (H’) and Simpson’s dominance index (C). Differences in predator abundance, parasitoid, air temperature, relative humidity, light intensity and rainfall used Wilcoxon test. Results of this study showed that monoculture and intensive use of synthetic insecticides caused lower diversity and abundance of predators and parasitoids, while the abundance and intensity of H. antonii attacks were higher compared with polyculture without insecticide. Banjarsari cocoa plantation that applied monoculture and intensive use of synthetic insecticides, had lower diversity and abundance predators and parasitoids compared with cocoa plantation in Kaliwining that applied polyculture planting without using insecticide. Dominant predators in Banjarsari and in Kaliwining cocoa plantations were Dolichoderus thoracicus and Araneus diadematus, while dominant parasitoid in Banjarsari and in Kaliwining cocoa plantations was Araneus diadematus.

Effect of farmer's behavior in cocoa management on insect diversity in Salayo Cocoa Plantation, West Sumatra, Indonesia

“…The use of agrochemicals leads to a reduction in soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa plantations (Tsufac et al 2021). The diversity and abundance of predators and parasitoids in the cocoa plantation without using insecticides (11 families) was higher than using insecticides (eight families) (Syarief et al 2017). The diversity of pests in the organic plantation was relatively lower, but the diversity of natural enemies, such as predators, was higher (Ransford et al 2021).…”

“…The abundance of those species is supported by the behavior of farmers in cultivation, the pesticides applied, and the preferences of these insects. Intensive use of synthetic insecticides caused lower diversity and abundance of predators and parasitoids (Syarief et al 2017). Insect abundance and diversity were generally higher in organic cocoa farms compared to conventional cocoa farms (Ransford et al 2021).…”

“…This condition was found in Bungo Tanjung Sepakat. D. thoracicus is one of the effective species for the biological control of cocoa pod borer Helopeltis antonii (Syarief et al 2017;Saleh et al 2020b). Sycanus sp.…”

Ant Abundance, identification and relation with cocoa pest attacks under several shade trees.

“…All microclimate paramater in all observation site is the suitable condition for H. antonii and C. cramerella to grow (Table 1). Based on research conducted by Syarief et al (2017) and Niogret et al (2019) an area with high humidity and low intensity of light could stimulate the reproduction of H. antonii dan C. cramerella. The vegetation condition like a broad leaves from the shade plant and the variety of vegetation provide shelter for H. antonii and C. cramerella from sunlight, especially at coconut and leucaena.…”

Agroecosystem complexity of Surjan and Lembaran as local farming systems effects on biodiversity of pest insects

“…Complex agroecosystems are also reported to have a higher diversity of natural enemies than simple agroecosystems. For examples Syarief et al (2017); Amala and Shivalingaswamy (2018); Thomine et al (2020); Lisdayanti and Nurkomar (2022).…”