The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens can cause direct damage and transmit rice diseases. Beauveria bassiana is used to control BPH, however the success of the fungal efficacy on rice fields is affected by external factors, such as temperature. This research aimed to evaluate the conidial viability and density of B. bassiana isolates from Java and Sumatra, exposed to 25 and 34°C and their virulence against BPH nymphs. Twenty six isolates of B. bassiana cultures incubated at 25 and 34°C for 7 days were observed on their conidial density, viability, and virulence against BPH nymphs. The incubation temperature of 34°C was able to decrease conidial density and viability, and virulence of the isolates. However, some isolates of B. bassiana originated from soils or insects in Sumatra, especially from South Sumatra still produced high conidial density and viability as well as high virulent against BPH nymphs, such as TS1D3A, TSID3B, TS1D2A and TS1D2B isolates. The TS1D2B isolate incubated at 34°C still caused the highest percentage of BPH mortality (43.33%) among other isolates. Therefore, the isolates can be used as promosing candidate for biocontrol for N. lugens on rice planted in tropical ecosystem, such as wetland or lowland rice ecosystems in Indonesia.

Abstract. Karenina T, Herlinda S, Irsan C, Pujiastuti Y. 2019. Abundance and species diversity of predatory arthropods inhabiting rice of refuge habitats and synthetic insecticide application in freshwater swamps in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 2375-2387. Rice cultivation in freshwater swamps in Indonesia is specific, among other things, there is no synthetic pesticide spraying and vegetable growing on rice field embankments. This specific cultivation technique can affect the abundance and diversity of rice-dwelling arthropods species. The study aimed to compare the abundance and species diversity of predatory arthropods inhabiting rice surrounded both by refugia and vegetables and by those being applied with synthetic insecticide in the rice field of freshwater swamps. This study used rice plots surrounded by refugia flower (Zinnia sp., Tagetes erecta, Cosmo caudatus, and Sesamum indicum); vegetables (Cucumis sativus, Vigna sinensis, Luffa acutangula, and Momordica charantia); untreated; and synthetic insecticide. Twenty-five herbivore species of 12 families, 34 spider species of 8 families, and 24 species of predatory insects of 12 families were found on rice during a planting season. The lowest herbivore population and spider abundance were found on synthetic insecticide sprayed rice and they were significantly different from those of refugia-rice plots. The most abundant spiders and predatory insects were found on rice surrounded by refugia and were not significantly different from those of rice surrounded by vegetables. The highest species diversity for spiders and predatory insects was found on rice surrounded by refugia, whereas the lowest species diversity was found on synthetic pesticide sprayed rice. Therefore, rice surrounded by refugia flowers and vegetables was the most appropriate for habitat and niche of predatory arthropods.

Phenomenon of Thrips (Thysanoptera) Attacks on Chili Plant (Capsicum annuum L.). Thrips are insects that damage agricultural plants such as chili plants (Capsicum annuum L.). The attacks which was caused by the thrips starting from mild to severe attacks. In Jambi province there was not any report about the attacks phenomenon of thrips on chili plants. The research aimed to analyze the phenomenon of thrips attack on chili plant. The study was conducted by observing the attacks of thrips on the leaves chili plant. First, observations were done on 160 chili plants in the infested cage thrips which obtained from chili plantation, cucumbers and squash. Observations were carried out at the part of affected leaves, color, shape and location of the attack, leaf structure, chlorophyll content and the content of nitrogen, fats and carbohydrates of affected leaves. Besides, tests Elisa was also done on the affected leaves. Second, observations of thrips population and the attack percentage, as well as the abundance of predators were performed on 400 chili plants in the field experiment in Jambi University. The thrips attack was allowed to happen naturally without spraying plants by insecticide. Observations in captivity found that thrips attack occurs on the upper leaf surface, occurs at the base, the middle and the edges with silvery attack. Thrips attacks on chili plant lower chlorophyll content and damage the structure of the leaf cells. Levels of nitrogen, fats and carbohydrates of chili leaf which attacked by thrips were not significantly different from control leaves at the level of 5%. Elisa test results showed that the leaves were attacked by the thrips which derived from chili plantation and host plant do not contain Tospovirus. Results of research in the field shows that the population of thrips, the percentage of the attack and the abundance of insect predators of thrips fluctuate and the highest is at the age of 8 mst chili plants. There are 15 species of predatory thrips were found in the field experiment of Jambi University. The members of Sphecidae, Araneidae, Theridiidae and Coccinellidae were found mostly.

Abstract. Prabawati G, Herlinda S, Pujiastuti Y. 2019. A comparative study on the arboreal arthropod abundance of rice fields between applied with fungal bioinsecticides and abamectin in the freshwater swamp of South Sumatra, Indonesia (Study case in the main and ratoon rice fields). Biodiversitas 20: 2921-2930. Ratoon rice has been cultivated by local farmers in South Sumatra and can be a source of habitat and niches for the main rice arthropods. The study aimed to compare the abundance of arthropods between main and rationed rice field applied with fungal bioinsecticides and abamectin. This study used bioinsecticides from fungi of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Cordyceps militaris and control using abamectin. Arboreal arthropods sampled using a sweep net. The abundance of arthropods in the main rice tends to be higher than in ratoon. Spiders found during the two rice seasons were Araneidae, Linyphiidae, Lycosidae, Oxyopidae, Salticidae, Theridiidae, Tetragnathidae, Theridiosomatidae, while predatory insects found were Mantidae, Coenagrionidae, Staphylinidae, Anthicidae, Latridiidae, Formicidae, Coccinellidae, Coccinellidae, Tettigoniidae, Miridae, Carabidae. The fungal bioinsecticides did not reduce the predatory arthropod abundance but the abamectin caused a decrease in the abundance of all guilds. The most drastic decrease was found in web-building spiders. The movement of hunting spiders and the predatory insects of the main to ratoon rice was faster than that of web-building spiders. The existence of ratoon rice could become habitats and niches for arthropods from the main rice. For this reason, controlling the herbivore insects could use bioinsecticides derived from entomopathogenic fungi.

There is a high diversity of bees in the tropics, including honey bees and stingless bees, which are the main sources for honey and other ecosystem services. In Indonesia, beekeeping practices have been developed for centuries, and they have been part of many cultural practices in many traditional communities. The objective of this research was to study the beekeeping status and managed bee diversity in Indonesia and to investigate beekeepers’ perspectives on the factors and obstacles related to beekeeping. Direct interview and online interview were conducted to gain data on bees and beekeepers. In total, 272 beekeepers were interviewed across 25 provinces. Samplings of honey bees and stingless bees were also done during direct interviews for further identification and, when possible, pollen identification. All data and specimens were then sent to IPB Bogor for compilation and identification. We recorded 22 species of bees, including 3 species of honey bees and 19 species of stingless bees, that are reared by Indonesian beekeepers, with Apis cerana and Tetragonula laeviceps as the most common species. Our research also found that the majority of beekeepers fall into the category of the younger generation (30–39 years old) with educational background mostly from senior high school. Based on the beekeepers’ perspectives, there are several obstacles to beekeeping, especially the occurrence of death of bee foragers attributed to climate, food source, and pesticides. In conclusion, there is a need to develop a strategy for beekeeping and bee conservation in Indonesia, especially for adaptation and mitigation from environmental changes with a particular focus on climate and land-use change.