Pollinating insects in honey pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Dusch) and sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata Sturt) agroecosystems

Abstract

This research was conducted to determine the abundance of species, frequency and time of visit of pollinating insects in the honey pumpkin and sweet corn agroecosystems. The research was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm and Plant Pest Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Jambi University from November 2020 to February 2021. The method used was the exploratory survey method. Data collection was carried out by direct observation and insect collection using a sweeping net on several plant samples that had been systematically determined with a diagonal (X) pattern. Insect observations were carried out every day starting from 07.00-18.00 Western Indonesian Time (WIT) on 1 honey pumpkin plant and 1 sweet corn plant and observed again in the following weeks during the generative phase. The data obtained were analyzed quantitatively and graphed to compare each species of insect found. The results showed that there were 6 species of pollinating insects found in honey pumpkin and sweet corn: Vespa tropica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Vespa velutina (Hymenotrea: Vespidae), Apis cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Apis dorsata (Hymenoptera: Apidae), Xylocopa latipes (Hymenoptera: Apidae), and Trigona sp (Hymenoptera: Apidae). The time of visit of pollinating insects indicates the specific time of visit, namely at 07:00-11:00 WIT on honey pumpkin plants and at 07:00-10:00 WIT on sweet corn plants. The highest frequency of insect visits was found in Apis cerana species with an average visit of 15.1 times on honey pumpkin flowers and 17 times on sweet corn flowers at 07:00-08:00 WIT.