Bioekologi Predator Plesiochrysa ramburi (Schneider) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) pada Kutu Putih Paracoccus marginatus Williams & Granara de Willink (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract

A mealy bug, Paracoccus marginatus is one of the important pest in papaya plants (Carica papaya L.). The pest uptakes the plant liquid by sticking the sty into the epidermis of the leaves, stems, and fruit. In addition, these pests also induce toxic substances into the leaves. The activity of these pests causes leaf chlorosis, plant mal growing, leaf mal formation, fruit early fall and plant death. The high potential for damage causes these pests to be a threat to the production of papaya fruit in Indonesia. One of biological control method for the pest that has been reported was using lacewing (Neuroptera). Plesiochrysa ramburi is one of the predatory lacewing species that plays a role in controlling various species of scale insect. Almost 70 species of scale insect has been reported as the prey. However, there has been little report on P. marginatus. This research has been started by conducting a survey in Deli Serdang Regency to collect basic information and knowledge of the farmers of papaya plants, to study the ecology and the development of P. marginatus population attack in the field, to study ecology and population dynamic of Pl. ramburi in the field. The first study aimed to evaluate the rate of attack of P. marginatus in papaya plants by varieties, planting seasons and cultivation methods. From each crop plot (about 2000 m2), of 30 sample plants were taken with diagonal sampling techniques. From each plant, the total number of leaves and the number of leaves attacked by P. marginatus were noted and their proportions were calculated. The second study aimed to determine the potential of Pl. ramburi (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) predation to P. marginatus by investigate the development, survival and reproduction of Pl. ramburi feed on P. marginatus. The time of development was recorded from the incubation period of the eggs until all imago die and life table parameters were observed. The third study aimed to determine the potential of Pl. ramburi predation to P. marginatus by investigated the preference and predation of Pl. ramburi larvae to P. marginatus. This study also evaluated the impact of Pl. ramburi on the level of damage to the papaya plant which invested by P. marginatus.

Kutu putih, Paracoccus marginatus merupakan salah satu spesies serangga hama penting pada tanaman pepaya (Carica papaya L.). Hama tersebut menghisap cairan tanaman dengan cara menusukkan stilet ke dalam epidermis daun, batang, dan buah. Selain itu, hama tersebut juga memasukkan substansi racun ke dalam daun. Aktivitas hama tersebut mengakibatkan daun mengalami klorosis, tanaman berhenti tumbuh, daun gagal terbentuk, daun dan buah gugur dini, embun madu banyak ditemukan, dan tanaman kemudian mati. Tingginya potensi kerusakan yang dapat ditimbulkan menyebabkan hama ini merupakan ancaman bagi produksi buah pepaya di Indonesia. Pengendalian hayati terhadap jenis-jenis kutu putih antara lain dilaporkan menggunakan predator lacewing (Neuroptera). Plesiochrysa ramburi merupakan salah satu spesies predator lacewing yang berperan dalam mengendalikan berbagai spesies kutu tanaman. Serangga ini memangsa hampir 70 spesies kutu tanaman. Namun belum ada laporan ilmiah tentang pemangsaan terhadap kutu putih P. marginatus. Penelitan ini diawali dengan melakukan survei di Kabupaten Deli Serdang untuk mengumpulkan informasi dan pengetahuan dasar yang terkait dengan latar belakang pengetahuan-sikap-persepsi petani tanaman pepaya, mengetahui ekologi dan perkembangan potensi peningkatan populasi serangan kutu putih P. marginatus di lapangan, mempelajari ekologi dan dinamika populasi serta potensi musuh alami Pl. ramburi yang ditemukan di lapangan.