Identifikasi dan Persentase Serangan Kutu Putih (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae dan Pseudococcidae) di Main Nursery Kelapa Sawit

Abstract

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is one of the most important plantation commodities in Indonesia, and its productivity is strongly influenced by the use of high-quality and healthy seedlings during the nursery stage. However, the success of nursery management is often constrained by pest attacks, including mealybugs that have recently been reported infesting oil palm main nurseries. This study aimed to identify mealybug species infesting oil palm main nurseries and to determine their population and infestation rate across five nursery locations in North Sumatra. The research was conducted using a survey method with purposive sampling on 1,000 seedlings at each observation site, namely Bah Jambi, Aek Pancur, Balimbingan, Marihat, and Pagar Jawa Estates. Species identification was carried out through microscopic slide preparations based on morphological diagnostic characters following standard identification keys. The results revealed four mealybug species: Icerya seychellarum (Monophlebidae) and Ferrisia dasylirii, Nipaecoccus nipae, and Pseudococcus cryptus (Pseudococcidae). The highest population was recorded in Marihat Estate with 5,083 individuals, while the lowest occurred in Aek Pancur Estate with 25 individuals. The infestation rate ranged from 2–6%, classified as a low-level infestation. Although mealybug attacks in the nursery stage remain low, their presence must be anticipated due to their invasive nature, polyphagous habits, and rapid reproductive potential through parthenogenesis. This information provides an important basis for developing early-stage pest management strategies in oil palm main nurseries.