Voracity and functional response of Predator Sycanus Dichotomus Stal. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) on Oil Palm Bagworm Metisa Plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)

Abstract

The Assassin bug, Sycanus dichotomus Stal. (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is an insect predator of Bagworms and Nettle Caterpillars commonly found in Oil Palm plantations (Sakaran & Syed, 1972; Sipayung et al., 1989; Norman et al., 1998; Zulkefli et al., 2004; Syari et al., 2010). It is most frequently found feeding on the Bagworm Metisa piano but had been observed to feed on Nettle Caterpillars such as Setora Nitens, Setothosea Asigna and Darna Trima (Norman et al., 1998) as well. This experiment will add on to the studies on the interaction of Predator S. Dichotomus on its prey and further quantify the effectiveness of S. Dichotomus in controlling the pest.