THE INFLUENCE OF FLOWERING BENEFICIAL PLANT, Turnera subulata ON THE INSECT NATURAL ENEMIES’ ABUNDANCE IN RELATION TO OIL PALM BAGWORM OCCURRENCE IN BAGAN DATUK, PERAK, MALAYSIA

Abstract

The devastating infestation of bagworms in Malaysia had significant impact on oil palm production. The influence of beneficial plant, Turnera subulata on the natural enemies’ abundance in relation to bagworm, Pteroma pendula occurrence in an oil palm plantation located in Bagan Datuk, Perak was investigated. Sampling techniques (yellow sticky trap and sweep net) were employed in each of the sampling areas: (i) T. subulata groves, and (ii) oil palm inter-row. A total of 1035 individuals of insect natural enemies representing four orders and nine families were collected. The highest diversity was found in the T. subulata groves, with Shannon-Wiener index (H’) of 1.747 compared to inter-rows (1.447). These values are supported by the higher abundance of natural enemies on T. subulata groves that indicated 82% of total individuals captured, dominated by Chalchidae (580 individuals). Overall, the interaction between the techniques and locations was significant (F = 9.125; df = 1; P = 0.003). A significant positive correlation was observed between natural enemies and pupal stage of P. pendula (r = 0.659; r 2 = 0.434; P <0.001). The findings from this study suggest that the propagation of insect natural enemies can be effectively achieved by the establishment of beneficial plants such as T. subulata .