Analysis of Climate and Population Dynamics of White Stem Borer Scirpopagha innotata (Walker) in Sumbawa Regency

Abstract

Preliminary selection is conducted in order to choose which pest that will be presented in this research. Four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012 is selected as time range to measure rice harvest losses due to infectious pest outbreak. The white stem borer (Scirpophaga innotata) has been one of major pests that cause farmer worries over years in Sumbawa Regency. The climate dynamics as hypothesized one of important factors to drive pest development is the underlying to be concerned. Australia CSIRO’s DYMEX agroclimatic software is employed in constructing a pest dynamics model provided with biological cycle (egg, larva, pupa and adult) with approach using quantitative climate parameter. Therefore, the output will be subject for analysis of white stem borer dynamic population in the regency from 2009 to September 2012. The result shows that fluctuating involved climate parameters give influence on white stem borer development at every stage. Meanwhile heat and cold stress, humid stress, and washing, simultaneously act as limiting factor for each life stage development. Larva stage as deemed the most perilous stage causing rice plant damage, lives within considerably suitable range of temperature (23.8ºC – 31.6ºC), relative humidity (65% - 77%), rainfall (0 mm – 30 mm), thus Sumbawa climate circumstance comforts the pest development. Meanwhile, most intensifying larva infestation occurs on February 2010, September 2011, and September 2012 respectively.