Natural enemy population of corn main pests in Maros experimental station at various stages of plant growth

Abstract

The study of natural enemy population density among the main predator species of corn plants was conducted in Maros Experimental Station (ES), Research Institute for Cereal Crops in 2018. The research uses direct patrol techniques, conducted by making direct observations in the field to record the presence of natural enemies. The natural enemies are observed by referring to Shepard et al. (1987) about insects which are beneficial for biological control of food crop pests. Identification of the presence of these natural enemies was carried out on several stadia (stages) of corn plants and on grass or plant habitus around the observation area as a comparison. Determination of plant samples was carried out on research plots and blocks around the Maros ES. The observation plots used 3 replications by taking 20-30 samples of plants per replication or a total of 60-90 observation/block units. Deuteronomy is a plot divided into 3 plots of observation whose width is adjusted to the area and length of the plot of the study. The recording of the insect population of natural enemies was conducted by calculating the number in each replicate plot by taking pictures of all types of insects found on the plant and then the results were identified in line with the guide book. The results of the recording were tabulated to find out the total average number of natural enemy populations that appear on the observation plot/block. Observations show that in Maros EF, the natural enemies identified and found in the location of observations are 8 types, each of which are Harmonia octomaculata (Fabricius) also called dome beetle, Agriocnemis pygmaea (Rambur) or needle dragonfly, Micraspis sp. or coccinellid beetles, Oxyopes javanus (Thorel) or sharp eye spiders, Conocephalus longipennis (de Haan) or grasshoppers, Lycosa pseudoannulata (Boesenberg and Strand) or wolf spiders, Limnogonus fossarum (Fabricius) or water bedbug, Tetragnatha maxillosa (Thorell) or long jaw spider.