PERILAKU SEMUT API (Solenopsis invicta) YANG BERASOSIASI DENGAN TANAMAN BUAH NAGA (Hylocereus sp.)

Abstract

Ants belong to the dominant group of insects on earth both ecologically and in number. Ants have various species with various roles including predators, decomposers and seed dispersers, bioindicators and as pests on various plants. The fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) is one of the ants associated with the dragon fruit plant (Hylocereus sp.) as a pest. Fire ants have unique habits and behaviors. This study aims to determine the behavior of fire ants associated with dragon fruit plants. Data analysis in this study used descriptive analysis by identifying and describing the behavior patterns of fire ants on dragon fruit plants. Fire ants (S. invicta) have three behaviors in dragon fruit plants (Hylocereus sp.) are feeding behavior, moving behavior, and communication behavior. The activity of fire ants most occurs in the stem part of the dragon fruit plant in the morning time with an air temperature range of 20-27ºC.