Importance of food plants for parasitoids in the control of nettle caterpillars and bagworms in oil palm plantations
2002
Desmier De Chenon, Roch | Hasibuan, H.F. | Sudharto Ps, | Purba, Rolettha Y.
Even with use of biopesticides or entomopathogens, the conservation or increase of natural enemies parasitoids in plantations cannot be achieved if not presence of food plants in order to provide them at the adult stage nectar for feeding and reproduction. The aim of this study was to determine these food plants for the parasitoids in order to use them for maintaining these pests under critical level. For this purpose the weeds community in oil palm plantations affected by nettle caterpillars and bagworms in two locations of oil palm estates has been studied, the plants with nectaries investigated and all parasitoids feeding on these plants recorded. Several plants with nectaries either on the leaves, stems, or flowers with high specificity have been detected as source of food for chalcids, braconids, ichneumonids, tachinid and bombyliid flies. The feeding activities and importance of each species of parasitoids involved have been monitored on each of these plants at different hours. A complex belonging to Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Leguminoseae, Rubiaceae, Turneraceae such as Borreria alata, Cassia tora, Elephantopus tomentosus, Euphorbia heterophylla, Phyllantus amarus, Turnera subulata are needed in order to provide food for the different species of parasitoids involved in natural biocontrol of these oil palm pests. Therefore it is now advisable for planters due to the results obtained to keep or cultivate these very useful plants along the borders of oil palm blocks in order to prevent outbreaks of leaf-eating caterpillars in oil palm plantations. (Résumé d'auteur)
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