The use of several types of artificial food to increase the activity of ants species in controlling cocoa plant pests
Ahdin Gassa and Fatahuddin

Department of Plant Pests and Diseases Faculty of Agriculture Hasanuddin University Makassar-South Sulawesi 90245 Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to determine the use of ants spesies to control cocoa insect pests and its application by the cocoa farmers in Sulawesi. This research was conducted in several regions and districs in South Sulawesi. The aim of this trial is to find food materials preferred by black ant species. Four food materials (sugar, cow fat, chicken intestine, and dry fish) were used in this trial and arranged in 10 replications. Food materials were put on branch and abundance of ant species attracted to food material was then recorded at every 15 minutes.
The results of this study showed that ant population and distribution were still low during the initial stage of this study. However, as the time elapsed, the population increased tremendously and it distributed widely. The intensity of pod damage due to cocoa pod borer was generally low on trees with artificial diet treatment and moderatedle to high intensities on trees without the artificial diet.

Keywords: Artificial food, distribution and aggressive behavior, ants species, cocoa pests

Topic: Emerging Technologies in Agricultural Production Systems