Efficiency of Checkered Beetle, Callimerus Arcufer against Oil Palm Bagworms, Metisa Plana and Pteroma Pendula

Abstract

The planting of mono-crop, oil palm (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) has been an ideal environment for pest buildup which causes Bagworm population explosion periodically. Natural enemies' population activity is an important factor in the biological control of Bagworm. There are a lot of researches and works done on the identification of potential biological control agents for Bagworm, however not many are useful against them. Furthermore, the information gathered was not manipulated and used extensively to control the Bagworms. A detailed study was conducted on the killing efficiency of each life stages of C. Arcufer against Oil Palm Bagworms, Metisa Piano and Pteroma Pendula. The study was conducted by using different life stages of C. Arcufer against different life stages of Oil Palm Bagworm species (Metisa Plana and Pteroma Pendula). One individual of C. Arcufer was taken randomly and put into five different arena which contained ten of Bagworms each (one larvae stage per aquarium), with 5 replicates for each experiment. A total of SO Bagworms were used for each replicates. Observation and recording of Bagworm mortality was done every 24 hours for 7 days. Results showed that C. Arcufer L3 performed the best in controlling Bagworms, both M. Piano and P. Pendula. There is significant difference when introduced with different life stages of M. plano (x2=38.994; P<0.005) and P. Pendula (x2=35.069; p <0.005). C.Arcufer Larvae consumed Pupae the least compared to other life stages of Bagworm, whilst C.arcufer adult do not consume bagworm of all stages. In terms of bagworm species preference, C. Arcufer has no preference between M. plano and P. pendula (t=0.71, P=0.481), except C. arcufer L1, whereby P.pendula L1 is more preferred compared to M. plano L1 (t =-3.89, P=0.00). In this study, C. Arcufer L3 was proven to be a potential insect predator, while adult of C. Arcufer was not a good predator against oil palm bagworms, M.Plano and P. Pendula,