Infestation of parasitic wasps from nettle caterpillar Ploneta diducta Snellen (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) in oil palm plantation

Abstract

The nettle caterpillar Ploneta diducta (Lepidoptera: Limocodidae) is the leaf-eating caterpillar of oil palm that emerged in Central Kalimantan. The identification of hymenopteran parasitic wasps as natural enemy will help the planters to take action to conserve agronomy practices. The census of P. diducta was carried out in PT Windu Nabatindo Abadi Central Kalimantan starting in January until August 2022. The population of P. diducta was found only in three blocks (±100 ha), with a total population is 52 larvae. Of the total population, 92% is unparasitized larvae and 8% is parasitized larvae. P. diducta larvae found are reared in the insectary and observed the emergence of parasitic wasps. There were three species of parasitic wasps that infected P. diducta, namely Apanteles sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Goryphus sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and Xanthopimpla sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Parasitic wasp Apanteles sp. was a gregarious parasitoid and both species Goryphus sp. and Xanthopimpla sp. were solitary. From these wasps, the highest infestation by Xanthopimpla sp. (9.6% parasitism rate) followed by Goryphus sp. (3.8% parasitism rate) and Apanteles sp. (1.9% parasitism rate). Conservation of this insect by intensification of flowering plants can drive the wasp population and its function in oil palm plantations.