Occurrence and abundance of cocoa pod borer (Conopomorpha cramerella Snellen) and search for parasitoid in smallholder farms during wet season in Southeast Sulawesi

At present, over 100,000 hectares or 20% of the cocoa farms of Indonesia are infested with the cocoa pod borer [CPP], Conopomorpha cramerella Snellen and the spread of infestation vary from province to province. However, information of the occurrence and abundance of the CPB and its parasitoids in Indonesia especially Southeast Sulawesi are very limited. Thus, this study was conducted in two cocoa-growing districts, Kendari and Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, where small holder farms are concentrated. Results showed that the CPB infestation is higher in Kendari than in Kolaka district. The infestation varied significantly with the farm size. The large farm (2 ha) had lower infestation compared with the medium (1-2 ha) and small (1 ha) farm sizes. The infestation at the start of the harvesting season was low but gradually increased with time. The larval population in Kendari was higher than in the Kolaka district and differs significantly with respect to farm sizes. The mean larval population per plant in small farms (2 ha) both in Kendari and Kolaka districts were 1.43+-0.0 and 1.40+-0.2, respectively. Data obtained on May 1st-10th was low and doubled in June 11th-20th and finally increased four times at the end of the harvesting reasons. The medium and large scale farms had comparable CPB larval population during the entire harvesting season. The mean number of CPB pupae per plant sample in Kendari and Kolaka differs significantly. The trend of pupal population is similar to that of the larval population wherein the lowest population were obtained at the start of the harvesting season and increased three times at the end of the harvesting season in all farm sizes. No parasitoid was collected in this study; probably due to the short sampling period. Moreover, sampling was done during the rainy season and generally, parasitoid populations are low at this time. Hence, there is a need to collect CPB population for 12 months to determine the presence of parasitoid