Estimated economic value of pollination by Tetragonula laeviceps (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) on tomato and chili

Abstract

Abstract. Mubin N, Kusmita AO, Rohmah A, Nurmansyah A. 2022. Estimated economic value of pollination by Tetragonula laeviceps (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) on tomato and chili. Biodiversitas 23: 2544-2552. Insects have various roles, one of which is as pollinators. Horticultural crops such as tomatoes and chilies need the help of pollinating insects to increase productivity. The stingless bee, Tetragonula laeviceps, is one of the potential pollinating agents. This study aimed to determine the effect of pollination by T. laeviceps on crop production and estimated pollinating insect’ economic value. The study was conducted using a field experiment with 3 pollination treatments included pollination with the help of T. laeviceps (open pollination / OP), pollination by wind (WP), and self-pollination (SP). The estimated economic value of pollination was calculated using a bio-economic approach based on the level of dependence of the plant on pollination. The results showed that open pollination (OP) treatment by T. laeviceps increased fruit set and seed set by 2-3 times that of wind pollination and 4-5 times that of self-pollination. The open pollination treatment significantly affected on the diameter and weight of tomato fruit compared to the WP and SP treatments but not on chili. Meanwhile, open pollination can increase the length of chili fruit. OP, WP, and SP treatments had no significant effect on tomatoes and chilies’ weight loss, damage level, and hardness level. Based on tomato and chili production, the economic value of T. laeviceps was 44 times (tomato) and 20 times (chili) from self-pollination and 65 times (tomato) and 11 times (chili) from wind pollination.