Hyposidra talaca Walker (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) dan Parasitoidnya pada Perkebunan Teh Rakyat dan Perkebunan Teh Milik Perusahaan Negara

Abstract

Tea (Camellia sinensis) has a strategic role for the Indonesian economy because of its high contribution in foreign exchange through exports, and providing mass employment. Hyposidra talaca has become an important pest that can disturb tea production because it could decrease the production of tea by attacking young leaves and shoots. The objective of this research was to determine the intensity of plant damage and population fluctuation of H. talaca on tea and their parasitoids in tea plantations with different status of management. Research was conducted from December 2015 until March 2016 in Cirumput Village to observe tea plantation managed by farmers, and PTPN VIII Gunung Mas to observe tea plantation managed by an estate company, PT. Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN). Three plots of tea plantation measuring about 300 m2 each were observed in each type of tea plantation. Intensity of plant damage and population fluctuation of H. talaca observed by direct observations on 5 subplots measuring 4 m2 of tea plantation in each plot. Intensity of plant damage and population fluctuation of H. talaca at the tea estate company were higher than those in farmer’s tea plantations. Incidence of parasitism was observed by collecting eggs and larvae of H. talaca from fields, and rearing them in the laboratory. Three parasitoids, i. e., a species of Rogadinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a species of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and a species of Tachinidae (Diptera) were found parasitizing larvae of H. talaca.