The impact of daily temperature fluctuations on arthropod life history parameters is inadequately studied compared with the ample amount of research that has been conducted on the effects of constant temperatures. Fluctuating temperatures are likely to be more realistic, as they are ecologically more similar to what these arthropods experience in nature. Here, we compared the impact of 11 constant temperatures that ranged from 10 to 35 °C with fluctuating temperatures with the same corresponding mean temperature and an amplitude of 10 °C between high (12 h) and low (12 h) temperatures on the development and life history parameters of Tetranychus urticae under continuous light conditions. No eggs hatched at constant 10 °C, whereas 81.5% of eggs successfully completed development at fluctuating 10 °C (15/5 °C). Egg-to-female adult development was faster under fluctuating temperatures from 12.5 to 27.5 °C than under constant temperatures, whereas the opposite trend was observed at >30 °C. The lower thermal thresholds (T) were 11.63 and 8.63 °C, and thermal constants (K) were 127.81 and 150.69 degree-days for egg-to-female adults at constant and fluctuating temperatures, respectively. The numbers of oviposition days were significantly higher at fluctuating 15 °C than at the corresponding constant temperature, whereas the opposite trend was observed from 20 to 30 °C. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was higher at fluctuating than at constant 15 °C. The net reproductive rate (R ) was also higher at fluctuating than at constant 15 and 35 °C, but showed an opposite trend at 20 and 25 °C. We conclude that fluctuating temperatures should be considered to accurately predict spider mite population dynamics in nature.

Soybean pod damaged by pod sucking bug (Riptortus linearis) is one of the constraint within soybean yield improvement in Indonesia. The research aimed was to identify the resistance of soybean genotypes to pod sucking pest. The experiment was conducted in Iletri's screen house from March to June 2015. The experiment was arranged in Randomized Completely Block Design using 10 soybean genotypes with three replicates. The soybean resistance was evaluated using no-choice test. Data collected on number of pod/plant, number of seed/plant, seed weight per plant, number of attacked pod/plant, and number of attacked seed/plant. The result showed that the lowest percentage both of pod and seed damage was G511H/ Anjasmoro//Anjasmoro-2-8, that was 25.83 % and 19.12 %, respectively. Based on the value of the percentage of seed damage, there were five susceptible genotypes, three moderately resistant, and two resistant genotypes.

Beauveria bassiana merupakan salah satu jenis cendawan entomopatogen yang termasuk dalam divisi Ascomycota, kelas Sordariomycetes, ordo Hypocreales dan famili Clavicipitaceae. B. bassiana dapat membunuh seluruh stadia serangga pada berbagai jenis hama tanaman dari ordo Homoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Isoptera, Diptera, dan Hymenoptera. Efikasi B. bassiana dipengaruhi oleh berbagai jenis enzim yang dihasilkan yaitu: kitinase, protease, amilase, dan lipase yang berfungsi sebagai pendegradasi lapisan integumen serangga. Efikasi cendawan juga dipengaruhi oleh produksi toksin yang terdiri dari beauvericin, bassianin, bassiacridin, beauvericin, bassianolide, cyclosporine, oosporein, dan tenellin yang dapat mengganggu sistem syaraf dan membunuh serangga sasaran. Keunggulan B. bassiana bersifat ovisidal yang dapat menggagalkan penetasan telur selain membunuh stadia nimfa/larva maupun imago, sehingga dapat menekan perkembangan populasi dan menghambat terjadinya peledakan hama. Kelebihan lain B. Bassiana, yaitu bersifat endofit yang dapat menghambat perkembangan patogen tular tanah maupun penyakit karat daun (Phakospsora pachyrhizi), embun tepung (Microsphaera diffusa), dan embun bulu (Peronospora mansyurica). Cendawan B. Bassiana juga bersifat ramah lingkungan sehingga aman terhadap kelangsungan hidup musuh alami dan hewan ternak serta tidak mencemari sumber air maupun lingkungan. Aplikasi B. bassiana dapat menekan terjadinya resistensi maupun resurjensi. Waktu aplikasi B. bassiana dianjurkan pada sore hari dengan frekuensi aplikasi tiga kali. Cendawan B. bassiana prospektif untuk digunakan sebagai biopestisida dalam mengendalikan hama dan penyakit tanaman, ramah lingkungan, serta dapat digunakan sebagai alternatif pengganti pestisida sintetik.

Abstract. In order to reduce the use of insecticide, the application of Beauveria bassiana may be an alternative control. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of B. bassiana for controlling mungbean pest. The experiment was conducted in Ngale Research Station from February to May 2017, using randomized block design, seven treatments, four replicates. The treatments were frequency of application; P1= six times, P2= five times, P3= four times, P4= three times, P5= once, P6= full protection using chemical insecticide, and P7= no protection. Application of B. bassiana four to six times can suppress the population of Empoasca sp., Riptortus linearis, and Maruca testulalis, but did not significantly different with the application of chemical insecticide. Based on the seed weight, application of B. bassiana six times (659.7 g/plot) led to significantly high as compare with the application of chemical insecticide (374 g/plot). Application of B. bassiana tended to be secure to natural enemies, especially Coccinella sp., Oxyopes javanus, and Paederus fuscipes. Both of those predators were not found on the application of chemical insecticide. Hence, B. bassiana can be recommended as a biological agent in integrated pest management component on mungbean because of effective and environmentally friendly.

Mite (Tetranychus urticae) that attacks the cassava plants during dry season can reduce the yield up to 53%, depending on plant age and duration of attacks. The objective of the trial was to evaluate the cassava promising clones for tuber root yield and mite resistance. The field trial was done in Malang, East Java, Indonesia, in 2018 with fifteen clones using a randomized complete block design, with three replications. The glass house experiment for mite evaluation was done in Malang in 2018. A total of fifteen clones were used in this glass house trial. Infestation of mite (imago) was done 1 month after plating with 15 mites/pot on the lower part of the fourth or fifth leaf. Results of the field experiment showed that there was a genetic variability in the clones tested. The fresh tuber yield in 10 months ranged 30.33–55.67 t/ha with mean 41.34 t/ha. The fresh tuber yield of clone OMM 0915-11 was the highest of 55.67 t/ha. The tuber result of clone UJ5d50-207-3 similar to OMM 0915-11 and significantly higher than check variety UJ5. Response of clones to mite attack were as follows: two clones were resistant, ten clones were moderately resistant, and the other clones were susceptible. Based on the green house trial, the response of clones to mite attack was as follows: one clone was highly resistant, two clones were resistant, ten clones were moderately resistant, and the other clones were susceptible. Clone OMM 0915-11 was resistant variety or high resistant variety based on the green house and field experiments, while clone UJ5d50-207-3 was moderately resistant based on both glass house and field experiments.