Ledakan Populasi Hama Kelapa Thosea monoloncha Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) di Pulau Tolonuo, Maluku Utara / Outbreaks of Coconut Pest Thosea monoloncha Meyrick (Lepidoptera : Limacodidae) at Tolonu Island, North Maluku
Authors: Sambiran W. J. , Lala Fredy , Susanto Andriko N. , Soetopo Deciiyanto , Hosang Meldy L.A. 
Published: February 2018

<p>Nettle caterpillars pest Thosea monoloncha Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) attacking coconut palms in several regions in Indonesia such as Sulawesi, Maluku (North Halmahera, South Hamahera and Kei Islands) and New Guinea. The objectives of the research were to determine the condition of the pests population, natural enemies and palm damage due to attack T. monoloncha. The research was conducted in October to December 2014 at Tolonuo island, North Maluku Province, and Laboratory Indonesia Palm Crop Research Institute. Samples plants are taken inside and outside the sites of the attack of T. monoloncha. At each location have been selected randomly, 10 sample plants each from immature coconut trees and mature coconut trees. The results showed that outbreaks of Coconut pest, Thosea monoloncha Meyrick have been occured in 2014 at Tolonuo Island, North Maluku Province. The level of damage caused by the pests consists of 32 ha high damage, 20 ha medium damage, and 35 ha low damage. At the location of heavy attacks from T. monoloncha, of 1056 healthy larvae, most have entered the mature larval stage (instar 4-5) with an average of 26.4 larvae/frond. Potential natural enemies that can infect the larvae of T. monoloncha is Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV). These pathogens can suppress pest populations up to 96 % in high damage locations or average 41.21% of infected larvae for the entire area is infested with the pest.</p><p align="center"><strong>ABSTRAK</strong></p><p>Hama ulat api Thosea monoloncha Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) menyerang tanaman kelapa dan menyebar di beberapa wilayah di Indonesia antara lain Sulawesi, Maluku (Halmahera Utara, Halmahera Selatan dan Pulau Kei) dan New Guinea. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui populasi hama, musuh alami dan kerusakan tanaman akibat serangan T. monoloncha. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Pulau Tolonuo, Provinsi Maluku Utara dan Laboratorium Balai Penelitian tanaman Palma. Pengambilan tanaman contoh dilakukan di dalam dan di luar lokasi serangan T. monoloncha. Pada setiap lokasi dipilih secara acak masing-masing 10 tanaman contoh dari tanaman kelapa yang belum menghasilkan dan tanaman kelapa menghasilkan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa serangan hama ulat api T. monoloncha Meyrick telah terjadi pada bulan November 2014 di Pulau Tolonuo. Tingkat kerusakan yang ditimbulkan oleh hama ini terdiri dari 32 ha serangan berat, 20 ha serangan sedang dan 35 ha serangan ringan. Pada lokasi serangan berat ternyata dari 1056 larva sehat, sebagian besar sudah memasuki stadia larva dewasa (instar 4-5) dengan rata-rata 26,4 larva/pelepah. Musuh alami potensial yang ditemukan menginfeksi larva T. monoloncha adalah Nuclear Polyhidrosis Virus (NPV). Patogen ini dapat menekan populasi hama sampai 96% pada lokasi serangan berat atau rata-rata 41,21% larva terinfeksi untuk seluruh areal yang terserang hama ini.</p>