Sains Malaysiana 50(8)(2021): 2153-2166

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5008-02

Microhabitats Utilization by Solitary Parasitoids and Predatory Insects as Indicators of Oil Palm Agroecosystem’s Capacity to Support Insect Species Diversity

(Penggunaan Mikrohabitat oleh Parasitoid Tunggal dan Serangga Pemangsa sebagai Penunjuk Kapasiti Agroekosistem Kelapa Sawit dalam Menyokong Kepelbagaian Spesies Serangga)

AHMAD BUKHARY, A.K.¹*, RUSLAN, M.Y.², NOOR HISHAM, H.³, MUZAMIL, M.⁴, ABU HASSAN, A.¹ & IDRIS, A.B.²

¹School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Gelugor, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

²Center for Insect Systematics, School of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³FGV Innovation Centre, PT23417, Lengkuk Teknologi, 71760 Bandar Enstek, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Malaysia

⁴Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pahang, Bandar Tun Abdul Razak, 26400 Jengka, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 23 Jun 2020/Diterima: 25 Disember 2020

ABSTRACT

Microhabitats capacity to support insect species diversity and persistence were evaluated implementing solitary parasitoids and predatory insects according to different phases of herbicide and chemical fertilizer applications. Two species of the genus Xanthopimpla (Ichneumonidae) and one species of the genus Pompilus (Pompilidae) showed relationships on vegetation-type microhabitats, notably natural weeds, leguminous cover crops, and the beneficial plant Turnera subulata, while two species of the genus Evania (Evaniidae) showed relationships with chipped oil palm trunks. One species from the genus Odontomachus (Formicidae) as an exclusive predatory ant was related to both chipped oil palm trunks and the beneficial plant T. subulata. Xanthopimpla parasitoids exhibited abundance fluctuations difference around natural weeds during herbicide application phases between three- and six-years old oil palm stands, with decreased and increased abundance patterns of the former and the latter, respectively. 18 years old oil palm stand showed increased abundance patterns only along with the different phases of chemical fertilizer applications. The importance of natural weeds diversity, restrictions of leguminous cover crops, frequency of herbicide applications, and the arrangements between beneficial plants and wood-based microhabitats that benefited insect parasitoids and predators were discussed.

Keywords: Microhabitats; oil palm; parasitoid; predator; utilization

ABSTRAK

Kapasiti mikrohabitat untuk menyokong kepelbagaian dan pengekalan spesies serangga telah dinilai dengan menggunakan parasitoid tunggal dan serangga pemangsa berdasarkan kepada fasa penggunaan racun rumpai dan baja kimia yang berbeza. Dua spesies daripada genus Xanthopimpla (Ichneumonidae) dan satu spesies daripada genus Pompilus (Pompilidae) menunjukkan perhubungan terhadap mikrohabitat berasaskan vegetasi, melibatkan rumpai liar, tanaman legum penutup bumi, serta tumbuhan bergunaTurnera subulata, manakala dua spesies daripada genus Evania (Evaniidae) menunjukkan perhubungan dengan batang kelapa sawit yang diracik. Satu spesies daripada genus Odontomachus (Formicidae) sebagai satu semut pemangsa khas berkait dengan batang kelapa sawit yang diracik dan tumbuhan bergunaT. subulata. Parasitoid Xanthopimpla menunjukkan perbezaan terhadap perubahan kelimpahan pada rumpai liar semasa penggunaan racun rumpai antara ladang kelapa sawit berumur tiga dan enam tahun, masing-masing dengan corak penurunan dan peningkatan kelimpahan. Ladang kelapa sawit berumur 18 tahun menunjukkan peningkatan corak kelimpahan hanya pada fasa penggunaan baja kimia yang berbeza. Kepentingan kepelbagaian rumpai liar, kekangan tanaman legum penutup bumi, kekerapan penggunaan racun rumpai dan susunan antara tumbuhan berguna dan mikrohabitat berasaskan kayuan yang memberikan manfaat kepada serangga parasitoid dan pemangsa dibincangkan.

Kata kunci: Kelapa sawit; mikrohabitat; parasitoid; pemangsa; penggunaan

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: abukhary@usm.my