The presence of Myopopone castanea Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as a predator in oil palm plantations

Abstract

Abstract One of the predators of the immature horn beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros, is Myopopone castanea. These predators have the same ecological niche as O. rhinoceros at its juvenile stage in oil palm plantations. Opportunities to carry out biological management of the O. rhinoceros and improve agricultural sustainability in oil palm fields arise from niche similarities between predators and prey. This study aimed to quantify the abiotic environment in ant nests and investigate the existence of M. castanea ants in oil palm farms. Oil palm plantations on peat soils and mineral soils with 20 sample points each were surveyed and explored as part of this study. The findings indicated that starting at 20 sample points on. The findings indicated that whereas 10 colonies of M. castanea ants were discovered in oil palm plantations on mineral soils, there were none identified in 20 sampling points on oil palm plantations on peat soil. The average temperature, humidity, and pH of the M. castanea ant colony were 29.1 0C, 6.27, and 71.4%, respectively. There is a considerable difference in the pH indicator between marginal land and peat land, but not in the temperature or humidity.