Relationships between Helopeltis theobromae damage and ants with special reference to Malaysian cocoa smallholdings

Way M.J., . and Khoo K.C., . Relationships between Helopeltis theobromae damage and ants with special reference to Malaysian cocoa smallholdings. pp. 1-11. ISSN 0127-6883

In some West Malaysian cocoa smallholdings as well as in commercial plantations the dominant ant species may profoundly affect damage by a mirid bug Helopeltis theobromae. Strong colonies of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina nesting in individual cocoa trees almost completely protected them from H. theobromae damage even when uncolonised surrounding trees were being severely damaged. Similar protection was given by another ant species Bolichoderus thoracicus when all or most of the trees in a block were well foraged. There was no evidence that Anoplolepis longipes and Crematogaster sp. protect cocoa and these species are considered harmful because they exclude the beneficial species or can keep them too scarce to provide protection from H. theobromae. In plantations gamma-HCH and pyrethroids commercially applied against H. theobromae did not eliminate the ants but decreased numbers so that beneficial species sometimes became too scarce to protect the cocoa. It is recommended that the two beneficial species should be carefully preserved in smallholdings by using spot sprays on H. theobromae damaged trees and againsts harmful ants avoiding trees colonised by the beneficial species.

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Abstract

In some West Malaysian cocoa smallholdings as well as in commercial plantations the dominant ant species may profoundly affect damage by a mirid bug Helopeltis theobromae. Strong colonies of the weaver ant Oecophylla smaragdina nesting in individual cocoa trees almost completely protected them from H. theobromae damage even when uncolonised surrounding trees were being severely damaged. Similar protection was given by another ant species Bolichoderus thoracicus when all or most of the trees in a block were well foraged. There was no evidence that Anoplolepis longipes and Crematogaster sp. protect cocoa and these species are considered harmful because they exclude the beneficial species or can keep them too scarce to provide protection from H. theobromae. In plantations gamma-HCH and pyrethroids commercially applied against H. theobromae did not eliminate the ants but decreased numbers so that beneficial species sometimes became too scarce to protect the cocoa. It is recommended that the two beneficial species should be carefully preserved in smallholdings by using spot sprays on H. theobromae damaged trees and againsts harmful ants avoiding trees colonised by the beneficial species.

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Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	10 tables; 16 ref. Summary (En Malay)
AGROVOC Term:	THEOBROMA CACAO
AGROVOC Term:	HELOPELTIS
AGROVOC Term:	HORMIGAS
AGROVOC Term:	MALASIA/ CONTROL BIOLOGICO
AGROVOC Term:	EXPLOTACION EN PEQUENA ESCALA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:55
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/19569

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