Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Attacks and their natural enemies on corn plantations in Munte Village, Munte Sub-district, Karo District, North Sumatera

Abstract

Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a relatively new pest in Indonesia and an important pest of corn. Corn cultivation is dominant in Munte Village, Karo District, North Sumatera. This study aimed to estimate the damage caused by S. frugiperda, and observe its natural enemies in Munte Village. Damage observations were four times over two weeks on 100 sample plants. Eggs and larvae of S. frugiperda were collected from the cultivation and reared in the laboratory until the parasitoids emerged. Insects that can act as predators and entomopathogens that attack S. frugiperda were also observed. The intensity of damage due to S. frugiperda in each observation was more than 30%. Parasitoids found during the observation were Telenomus sp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), Trichogramma sp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), Microplitis sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Charops sp., Anomaloninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Megaselia sp. (Diptera: Phoridae), and Tachinidae (Diptera), with parasitization levels of 29.71, 3.40, 1.65, 0.41, 1.23, 0.41, and 0.41%respectively. The other natural enemies found were predators, i.e. Doru sp. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), Oxyopes sp. (Araneae: Oxyopidae), and entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium sp. Telenomus was the most dominant natural enemy found during the observation.