Keanekaragaman Serangga Musuh Alami pada Agroekosistem Sawah di Gampong Lampisang, Aceh Besar

Abstract

Rice production in Indonesia is constrained by various abiotic factors, including declining soil fertility, drought stress, and climate and weather variability. Biotic constraints involve plant-disturbing organisms (OPT), comprising insect pests, plant diseases, and weeds. Environmental changes within rice agroecosystems often lead to increased pest pressure, thereby necessitating effective and environmentally sound pest management strategies. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) prioritizes the utilization of natural enemies as a core component of biological control to maintain pest populations below the economic threshold. This study aimed to assess the diversity of natural enemy species within the rice agroecosystem of Gampong Lampisang, Aceh Besar. The research employed field surveys and morphological identification of predatory insects. The results indicated that the rice agroecosystem in the study area supports a diverse community of natural enemies. The taxa recorded included Pantala flavescens, Ischnura senegalensis, Deinopis longipes, Theridion sp., members of the family Coccinellidae, and Dolichoderus sp. The presence of these taxa reflects the substantial potential of indigenous natural enemies to support IPM implementation. These findings provide a crucial foundation for the development of sustainable pest management strategies and for reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides.