THE POTENTIAL OF Sycanus dichotomus (HEMIPTERA: REDUVIIDAE) AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT OF Metisa plana (LEPIDOPTERA: PSYCHIDAE) IN OIL PALM PLANTATIONS

Muhamad Fahmi-Halil, Mohamad Haris-Hussain, Dzulhelmi Muhammad Nasir, Johari Jalinas, Ruslan Mohd Yusop, Mohd Fauzi Mohd Muzamil, Idris Abdul Ghani

Abstract


Bagworm, Metisa plana (Lepidoptera: Psychidae), is a major pest of oil palm plantations in Malaysia, causing significant economic losses. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of Sycanus dichotomus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) as a biological control agent against M. plana. The assessment involved two approaches, closed and open field trials conducted on infested oil palm trees at Sime Darby Sdn. Bhd. plantation in Selangor. In the closed trial, two release rates of S. dichotomus (10 and 20 individuals) were applied to four-year-old oil palm trees enclosed in mesh cages, alongside a control group without predator release. Meanwhile, the open trial involved releasing 70 individuals of S. dichotomus into four oil palm plots, with four additional plots serving as controls. Results from the closed trial showed that the treatment group with 20 released individuals recorded the most significant reduction in M. plana larvae within three days of observation (P<0.05) compared to the control group, although no significant difference (P>0.05) was found between the 10- and 20-individual groups. In the open trial, plots with predator release exhibited the lowest average number of M. plana larvae, significantly different (P<0.05) from the control plots. Overall, the findings confirm the high potential of S. dichotomus as an effective biological control agent against M. plana, and further large-scale field studies are recommended to assess its practical efficacy in integrated pest management.


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