Kutu Putih Exallomochlus hispidus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae pada Tanaman Kakao: Distribusi Vertikal, Struktur Populasi, dan Parasitoidnya

Abstract

Kutu putih (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) merupakan salah satu hama pada tanaman kakao yang dapat menurunkan produktivitas dan kualitas hasil. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui distribusi vertikal kutu putih pada tanaman kakao, mengidentifikasi jenis kutu putih, serta mengidentifikasi parasitoid yang berasosiasi dengan kutu putih. Penelitian dilakukan di kebun kakao Pusat Penelitian Kelapa Sawit di Desa Ciaruteun Ilir, Kecamatan Cibungbulang, Kabupaten Bogor, Jawa Barat dan Laboratorium Biosistematika Serangga Departemen Proteksi Tanaman, Fakultas Pertanian, Institut Pertanian Bogor. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan secara purposive sampling pada tanaman terserang kutu putih. Sampel diambil dari bagian atas, tengah, dan bawah tanaman, kemudian dipelihara di laboratorium untuk mengamati kemunculan parasitoid. Identifikasi dilakukan berdasarkan karakter morfologi menggunakan mikroskop dan literatur pendukung. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa spesies kutu putih yang ditemukan adalah Exallomochlus hispidus. Insidensi serangan tertinggi ditemukan pada bagian tengah tajuk dengan populasi didominasi oleh nimfa instar pertama. Parasitoid yang berhasil diperoleh yaitu Anagyrus sp., Gyranusoidea sp., Taftia sp., dan Promuscidea sp..

Mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) are among the pests of cocoa plants that can reduce productivity and yield quality. This study aimed to determine the vertical distribution of mealybugs on cocoa plants, identify the mealybug species, and identify parasitoids associated with the mealybugs. The study was conducted in a cocoa plantation of the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Center in Ciaruteun Ilir Village, Cibungbulang District, Bogor Regency, West Java, and at the Insect Biosystematics Laboratory, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural University. Sampling was conducted using purposive sampling on mealybug-infested plants. Samples were collected from the upper, middle, and lower parts of the plants and subsequently reared in the laboratory to observe parasitoid emergence. Identification was based on morphological characteristics using a microscope and supporting literature. The results showed that the mealybug species found was Exallomochlus hispidus. The highest incidence of infestation was found in the middle part of the canopy, where the population was dominated by first-instar nymphs. The parasitoids successfully obtained were Anagyrus sp., Gyranusoidea sp., Taftia sp., and Promuscidea sp..