The Presence of predators of whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) on curly red chili (Capsicum annum L.) plantation with refugia

Abstract

Curly red chili is one of the leading and strategic horticultural commodities, but it cannot be separated from attacks by various pests, one of which is the whitefly Bemisia tabaci Genn (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). Utilization of refugia plants is a compatible control alternative, because it can encourage the conservation of natural enemies such as predators. This study aims to determine the effect of several types of refugia plants on the presence of Arthropod predators of whitefly pests on curly chili (Capsicum annum L.). The treatments in this study were sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L), marigold flower plants (Tagetes erecta), paper flower plants (Zinnia elegans Jacq) and controls (without refugia). The design used was a randomized block design. Sampling of predatory arthropods was carried out using yellow pan traps which were set in the morning and left for 24 hours. The caught predators were identified at the Laboratory of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mataram. The observed variables included the type and characteristics of the predatory whitefly arthropods found, and the population of predators. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the number of predator species on curly chili plants with refugia was higher (8 species) than on control plants (7 species). Planting refugia in curly chili plantation significantly increased the population of predatory arthropods but the refugia species between sunflower, marigold and zinnia plants did not show any differences in predatory arthropod populations on red chili plants