The in-situ inventory of natural enemies at the corn plantation experimental garden of Balitsereal (Indonesian Cereal Research Institute)

Abstract

The use of natural enemies can reduce the application of insecticides which have a negative influence on ecosystems and human health. The objective of this study is to inventory the insitu of the natural enemies in corn crops that found in the experimental station of Indonesian Cereals Research Institute (Balitsereal) in Maros, South Sulawesi. The observation plot used three replications by taking a sample of 30 plants for each replication, with a total plant observation of 90 units per block. The number of natural enemy populations obtained was recorded by counting the number of natural enemies to find out the total average number of natural enemy populations contained in the observation plot. The results showed that there were 11 types of natural enemies in corn crops namely Harmonia octomaculata (lady beetle), Menochilus sexmaculatus (lady beetle), Ophionea nigrofasciata (Schmidt-Goebel) (ground beetle), Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter (plant bug), Panstenon nr. Collaris Boucek (wasp), Araneus inustus (orb spider), Cardiochiles philippinensis (wasp), Phanerotoma sp. (wasp), Pipunculus mutillatus (big-headed fly), Harpalus pensylvanicus and Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens). The existance of the above natural enemies will be very usefull in decreasing the pesticide application in the fields.