Pengaruh Pemasangan Sarang Semut Buatan dengan Berbagai Jenis Pakan Alternatif terhadap Helopeltis spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae) pada Tanaman Kakao (Theobroma cacao.L) di Kabupaten

Abstract

One of the main challenges in cocoa cultivation is plant pests , such as Helopeltis spp, and one effective method is biological pest control, by utilizing or manipulating natural enemies of pests such as the black ant Dolichoderus thoracicus Smith. This study aims to determine the appropriate type of alternative feed in artificial ant nests to attract black ants to nest in them and to act as natural pest controllers for Helopeltis spp on cocoa plants. This research will be conducted in smallholder cocoa plantations in Sei Alim Hasak Village, Sei Dadap Subdistrict, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra with an altitude of ±21 meters above sea level and a land area of 60x60 meters. Furthermore, artificial black ant nests will be installed using bamboo stems and different methods of providing alternative feeds such as brown sugar, white sugar, and condensed milk. The experiment will be carried out using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 treatments and 1 control. The research will be conducted for 5 weeks with 5 replications for each treatment. The results show that the type of colonization of black ants D. thoracicus Smith in each treatment is through migration. The most effective alternative feed in attracting black ants D. thoracicus Smith is chocolate condensed milk, is able to produce 18.32 eggs, 27.24 larvae, 37.12 pupae, and 115.44 adults.