The effect of Crotalaria juncea plant in coffee ecosystem to the diversity and abundance of predators and parasitoids insects

Abstract

Agro-ecosystem of coffee adopts monoculture system that are less favorable to the development of natural enemies. However, only few studies examined the role of natural enemies in the ecosystem. This study examined the effect of flowering plant, Crotalaria juncea in coffee ecosystem to enhance the diversity and abundance of natural enemies; especially insect predators and parasitoids. The diversity and abundance of insect predators and parasitoids, both in coffee ecosystem with C. juncea and without C. juncea as a control plot were recorded. The result showed that the population abundance of insect predators and parasitoid on plot with C. juncea was 2.20 individuals, higher than on control plot (1.50 individuals/per branch/2 minutes). The Predatory insects found, both in coffee flowers and Crotalaria flowers were Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), Vespidae (Hymenoptera), Mantidae (Orthoptera), Libellulidae (Odonata), Chrysopidae (Neuroptera) and Asilidae and Syrphidae (Diptera), while the parasitic insects were Ichneumonidae, Braconidae and Aphelinidae (Hymeniptera). The abundance of insect predators and parasitoids on the coffee flower may decrease (r = -0,366) by increasing the distance to C. juncea.