Diversity of Hymenoptera parasitoid on oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantations in Dharmasraya District, West Sumatra Province

Abstract

Oil palm farmers in Dharmasraya District always strive to increase oil palm production and productivity. The biotic factors can affect the presence of Hymenoptera insects. Most of the Hymenoptera insects are parasites. The research aimed to study the diversity of Hymenoptera parasitoids in oil palm plantations in young oil palm plantations (2-3 years old) and older oil palms (5-20 years old) in Dharmasraya District. Sample points were determined using the transect line method on the land. Sampling was carried out using three traps: 1) yellow pan traps, 2) malaise traps, and 3) Sweep net. The analysis was carried out by calculating the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’), the Margalef species richness index (D), the Pielou species evenness index(J), the Jaccard similarity index (Is), and the estimated species richness of Hymenoptera parasitoid. Hymenoptera parasitoids found at the research sites were 1,267 individuals consisting of 23 families and 142 morphospecies. Two young oil palm plantations have a higher diversity of Hymenoptera parasitoids (4.15; 4.24) than older oil palm plantations (3.51; 3.86). The Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, and Scelionidae families dominated the abundance of Hymenoptera parasitoids. Young oil palm plantations have a higher diversity of Hymenoptera parasitoids than older oil palm plantations.