The effectiveness of clove oil, its fractions, and clove oil-based fumigant tablet formulations, against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

Indonesia has seen an increase and widespread reports of resistance among stored-product insect pests to phosphine. The use of Syzigium aromaticum (clove oil) as an alternative fumigant may be a useful strategy to control infestation by phosphine-resistant varieties of stored-product insects. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of whole (unfractionated) clove oil as well as its component fractions as a fumigant and repellent against the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)), and to develop a simple fumigant formulation for this purpose. The experimental design used to test the effectiveness of clove oil and its fractionation was a completely randomized design (CRD). Meanwhile, testing the effectiveness of tablet formulations was carried out by factorial CRD. Fumigation test results gave LD50 and LD95 values of 0.234 and 1.142 ml/l respectively, for crude clove oil used in a fumigation chamber against T. castaneum. An n-hexane fraction of clove oil tested under the same conditions was more lethal, causing 95% mortality of T. castaneum at the dose of 0.801 ml/l during fumigation. Finally, tablets containing a set proportion of clove oil and naphthalene (1:1) reached LD91 against T. castaneum after 7 days’ fumigation.

Resistance status and the rate of resistance development in Musca domestica Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae) to permethrin and imidacloprid in Indonesia

A previous report has indicated that in many regions of Indonesia, populations of Musca domestica Linnaeus have shown very high resistance to permethrin and low resistance to imidacloprid. In this study, the resistance status to permethrin and imidacloprid was updated using a topical application and feeding bioassay. Six housefly strains originated from six highly populated cities in Indonesia, namely Serang (SRG), Jakarta (JKT), Bandung (BDG), Semarang (SMG), Yogyakarta (JOG), and Surabaya (SBY). A seventh strain (Danish Pest Infestation Laboratory (DPIL)) served as the control. Each strain was tested for resistance to the two insecticides. In addition, the rate of development of resistance to the two insecticides was measured over ten generations. The results indicated that all field strains showed very high resistance to permethrin. The highest resistance level recorded was in the SRG strain (RR50 = 2880), and the lowest was in the JKT strain (RR50 = 520). Repeated application of permethrin over ten generations increased the resistance level by about 2.7–32.73-fold as compared to the level of their respective parental populations. On the other hand, most strains showed low to moderate resistance to imidacloprid, in which the SRG strain had the highest resistance level (RR50 = 15.5) and the SBY strain had the lowest (RR50 = 2.0). Repeated application of imidacloprid over ten generations increased the resistance level by about 3.25–17.41-fold. The findings, which is the second report of housefly resistance in Indonesia since 2016, provide a crucial foundation for developing appropriate housefly integrated pest management strategies in highly populated areas in Indonesia.

Kepadatan populasi dan waktu efektif pelepasan tungau predator Neoseiulus longispinosus Evans untuk pengendalian Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida

Kanzawa spider mite, Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida (Tetranychidae) is one of the most important pest mite in Indonesia. This mite is known as the pest of many crops, including cassava. Neoseiulus longispinosus Evans (Phytoseiidae) is a predatory mite commonly found on plant infested by kanzawa spider mite. This predatory mite has high potential to be developed as biological control agent of T. kanzawai. The aim of this research is to elucidate the effective density and release time of N. longispinosus to control T. kanzawai on cassava. The research was conducted in the greenhouse, using cassava of Mentega cultivar. T. kanzawai were introduced into the cassava plants two weeks after planting, with density 5 female adults/plants. N. longispinosus were introduced 1, 2, and 3 weeks after T. kanzawai introduction with predator:prey ratio of 0:5, 1:5, 2:5, dan 3:5, respectively. Population of T. kanzawai and N. longispinosus, and also plant damage were observed at 6 weeks after planting. N. longispinosus could suppress T. kanzawai population and the highest suppression occurred at the interaction between 3:5 ratio and the release time at one week after T. kanzawai infestation. There was no significant effect of N. longispinosus release at various release ratio and time on attack intensity of T. kanzawai.

Tanggap fungsional predator Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) dan Micraspis lineata (Thunberg) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) terhadap kutukebul Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) dan kutudaun Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) and the aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) are important pests in tomato and chilli pepper. These pests directly attack and as a viral vector can decrease the production of tomato and chili pepper. Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) and Micraspis lineata (Thunberg) are predator beetles of B. tabaci and M. persicae. This study aimed to know the potential predation of M. sexmaculatus and M. lineata as a predator of B. tabaci and M. persicae. Completely randomized factorial design using 2 factors consist of type and density of prey with 3 replicates used in this study. The potency of predatory coccinellidae as predator of B. tabaci and M. persicae was evaluated in 2 observations, i.e. predation and functional response assay. Based on logistic regression analysis, both of M. sexmaculatus and M. lineata showed characteristic of type I functional, this means that the higher density of prey, the ability and predation rate of M. sexmaculatus and M. lineata were also increased. The predator M. sexmaculatus and M. lineata were more effective to control M. persicae than B. tabaci. M. sexmaculatus was the effective predator to control adult of M. persicae.

Biological activities and chemical composition of Mentha piperita and Syzygium aromaticum essential oil fractions against cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) is one of the major, common, pests of stored grains as it causes quantitative and qualitative losses in legume crops. This research sought to find the most active fraction in Mentha piperita and Syzygium aromaticum essential oils, to evaluate bioactivity of those crude essential oils and active fractions against C. maculatus, and to identify the compounds contained in the active fraction. The essential oils were fractionated using three solvents, namely n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The n-hexane fraction was identified as the active fraction, causing mortality, oviposition deterrence, and ovicidal effects. In fumigation chambers, LD95 values of M. piperita (Mnf) and S. aromaticum n-hexane fractions (Snf) were 0.045 ml/l and 0.057 ml/l respectively. ED50 values for oviposition deterrence were 0.016 ml/l for Mnf and 0.022 ml/l for Snf. ED50 value of ovicidal effects for Mnf- and Snf-treated eggs were 0.014 ml/l for both fractions. GC-MS analysis showed 8 dominant compounds in Mnf and 5 dominant compounds in Snf. Overall it is concluded that Mnf and Snf oils have effective biological activities against stored pest C. maculatus and have potential to be considered as alternatives to synthetic insecticides.

Efek pemberian pakan berlebih berupa limbah sayuran pakcoy terhadap daya cerna, tingkat penurunan limbah, dan kandungan protein pada lalat tentara hitam (Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus))

One of the recent organic waste management programs actively developed is organic waste bioconversion by using larvae of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus)). However, one major challenge in organic waste management in Indonesia is the limited space to manage the wastes at waste collection centers. This condition increases the number of wastes to be converted (consumed) by larvae of soldier fly. In this study, the condition was imitated in the laboratory where larvae were individually fed with a large number of wastes. Larvae were divided into 4 groups and were fed with 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg/larva/day of rotten vegetable waste (Pakcoy) and were replicated 3 times. Variables observed during the study were the growth rate, consumption capability, level of waste reduction (waste reduction index, WRI), consumption efficiency (efficiency of conversion of digested-feed, ECD), the weight of harvested biomass, and protein content of larvae, pupae, and adults. The results showed that there was no significant correlation between the weight of harvested biomass and the amount of substrate provided to larvae (one-way ANOVA, P > 0.05). The increasing amount of substrate reduced the efficiency of waste reduction and consumption (one-way ANOVA, P < 0.05). This study also showed that the possible upper limit of consumption capability of larvae was 400 mg/larva/day. On the other hand, the increasing amount of substrate increased the protein content of biomass of each developmental stage.

Serangan hama invasif Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) pada tanaman jagung di Kabupaten Ende Flores, Indonesia

Corn is the main commodity in Ende Regency. One of the obstacles faced by farmers at the end of 2019 was the attack of the armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) which is an invasive pest. Information about its spread in Flores are lacking. Therefore the aim of this research is to conduct a survey on the geographic distribution of S. frugiperda during the growing season of June–July 2020 in Flores, its infestation, and the presence of natural enemies. Observations were made on 200 sample plants in each of the 5 location. Calculations were made on the population level and intensity of attack. The intensity of the attack was measured using the Davis scale. The results showed that the pest population and attack intensity of S. frugiperda in the Rewarangga village was 8.15 individuals/plant and 76%, Lokoboko was 1.32 individuals/plant and 34%, Nanganesa was 2.48 individuals/plant and 51%, Rewarangga amounted to 5.96 individuals/plant and 55%, and Borokanda 3.31 individuals/plant and 42%. The natural enemies of S. frugiperda have not been found in the field.

Pengaruh lokasi terhadap serangan lalat puru Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) pada tumbuhan eksotik invasif Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson dan interaksinya dengan komunitas serangga lokal

The gall fly, Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) was first introduced to Indonesia to control the invasive weed Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson or kirinyuh. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of habitat type and location, and the presence of natural enemies associated with gall flies on their level of attack. This research was be conducted in various types of habitat in Bogor and South Lampung from January to December 2019. Thirty plant samples were obtained using the area species curve method. Sampling was conducted to collect gall in each habitat, it was followed by rearing gall for ± 1 month to see insects that came out from the gall at the Biological Control Laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University. The results of this study indicate that the location of the observation affects the level of attack on gall flies against kirinyuh and parachitization of gall flies by parasitoid, while the habitat does not affect both. Then there are other insects associated with kirinyuh in addition gall flies in gall, namely Lonchaea sp.

Pengaruh pengelolaan agroekosistem terhadap kelimpahan kutu loncat jeruk Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is a serious problem in citrus because it transmits huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Agricultural practices without paying attention to the agroecosystem complexity often cause the agroecosystem more suitable for insect pests proliferation and less friendly to natural enemies. The research aims to study the effectiveness of agroecosystem management compared to conventional farming in the ACP control. The effects of both treatments on the diversity and abundance of ACP’s natural enemies as well as the incidence and severity of HLB were also studied. Agroecosystem management consists of preventive and responsive actions. Preventive action was carried out through a polyculture system, planting refugia and legume cover crop, providing beetle banks, applying lime, applying organic and inorganic fertilizers, citrus pruning intensively, maintaining drainage ditches, and mechanical weed control. Responsive action is short-term control when the abundance of ACP reaches the action threshold. Responsive action was carried out through biological or chemical control. Meanwhile, conventional farming is a series of conventional farming and pest control techniques commonly applied by farmers. Each treatment was applied in three orchards of Siam Orange cv. Pontianak Citrus nobilis Lour var. microcarpa Hassk. The results showed that agroecosystem management was more effective in controlling the ACP population so that its abundance was lower and less fluctuated than conventional farming. ACP’s natural enemies in agroecosystem management were also more diverse than conventional farming. The abundance of ACP’s natural enemies and the incidence and severity of HLB in the two treatments were not significantly different.