Diversity and activity of insect natural enemies of the bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) within an oil palm plantation in Perak Malaysia

Norman Kamarudin, . and Othman Arshad, . Diversity and activity of insect natural enemies of the bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) within an oil palm plantation in Perak Malaysia. pp. 296-307. ISSN 1511-2780

Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) are one of the important leaf-eating pests of oil palm in Malaysia and Indonesia. Crop losses due to the extensive defoliation by a serious bagworm attack are inevitable. The establishment and propagation of the bagworms parasitoids depend very much on species of flowering plants as sources of nectar. Cassia cobanensis was proven suitable due to its attractiveness to most bagworm parasitoids. A study to assess the diversity of bagworms natural enemies (hymenopterous parasitoids and reduuvid predatory bugs) on the C. cobanensis plant and within the undergrowth of the oil palm planting block was evaluated by sweep net and sticky trap sampling. Environmental parameters such as light intensity temperature and relative humidity were also recorded during the sampling to determine their possible range of influence towards the activity of the insect natural enemies. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index of insect natural enemies occurring on the C. cobanensis plant was 2.32. Among the dominant parasitoids observed on C. cobanensis plants are chalcids (Brachymeria lugubris and Brachymeria carinata) and braconids (Dolichogenidea metesae and Apanteles aluella) besides the reduuvid predator Cosmolestes picticeps. In contrast within the oil palm planting block the undergrowth within the non-harvesting path only recorded a much lower diversity index of 1.09 and 1.12 each in a block with C. cobanensis at the roadside and without respectively. However C. picticeps was shown to be much more dominant within both oil palm planting blocks up to two- to three-fold with much lesser numbers of hymenopterous parasitoids (less than five individuals). This indicates the important contribution of C. cobanensis plant towards enriching the diversity of the parasitoids which are normally not found within the oil palm block due to much less intense sunlight. In terms of insect activity they are significantly more active in the moderate or medium light intensities (8000 fc) medium humidity levels (50-69) and medium temperatures (30C-34C).

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Abstract

Bagworms (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) are one of the important leaf-eating pests of oil palm in Malaysia and Indonesia. Crop losses due to the extensive defoliation by a serious bagworm attack are inevitable. The establishment and propagation of the bagworms parasitoids depend very much on species of flowering plants as sources of nectar. Cassia cobanensis was proven suitable due to its attractiveness to most bagworm parasitoids. A study to assess the diversity of bagworms natural enemies (hymenopterous parasitoids and reduuvid predatory bugs) on the C. cobanensis plant and within the undergrowth of the oil palm planting block was evaluated by sweep net and sticky trap sampling. Environmental parameters such as light intensity temperature and relative humidity were also recorded during the sampling to determine their possible range of influence towards the activity of the insect natural enemies. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index of insect natural enemies occurring on the C. cobanensis plant was 2.32. Among the dominant parasitoids observed on C. cobanensis plants are chalcids (Brachymeria lugubris and Brachymeria carinata) and braconids (Dolichogenidea metesae and Apanteles aluella) besides the reduuvid predator Cosmolestes picticeps. In contrast within the oil palm planting block the undergrowth within the non-harvesting path only recorded a much lower diversity index of 1.09 and 1.12 each in a block with C. cobanensis at the roadside and without respectively. However C. picticeps was shown to be much more dominant within both oil palm planting blocks up to two- to three-fold with much lesser numbers of hymenopterous parasitoids (less than five individuals). This indicates the important contribution of C. cobanensis plant towards enriching the diversity of the parasitoids which are normally not found within the oil palm block due to much less intense sunlight. In terms of insect activity they are significantly more active in the moderate or medium light intensities (8000 fc) medium humidity levels (50-69) and medium temperatures (30C-34C).

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Lepidoptera
AGROVOC Term:	Oil palms
AGROVOC Term:	Arthropods
AGROVOC Term:	Natural enemies
AGROVOC Term:	Environmental factors
AGROVOC Term:	Insect pests
AGROVOC Term:	Identification
AGROVOC Term:	Parasites
AGROVOC Term:	Parasitoids
AGROVOC Term:	Pests
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	28 Apr 2025 07:22
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/24288

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