Last modified: 2022-08-22
Abstract
The role of ants as predators is crucial to study concerning the biological control agent of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), particularly as the international market today demands coffee that is free from harmful chemicals, such as synthetic pesticides. This research was conducted to determine the composition of ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) that live and make nests on coffee plants and to determine their potential role as predators of Coffee berry borer (CBB), a primary pest on coffee. A total of four coffee plantations consisting of two organic and two conventional Gayo coffee plantations at an altitude of 1100-1300 m above sea level in Central Aceh Regency were chosen as study sites. We observed both arboreal ants found in coffee trees and the ants inside the coffee berry infested by CBB. We recorded 23 species of arboreal ants in conventional coffee plantations and 17 species in organic ones. However, the abundance of ants in organic coffee plantations was three times higher than in conventional coffee. We found seven ant species inside CBB-infested coffee berries that were the same as those found on the coffee trees. The ants inside CBB-infested berries can potentially become important predators of CBB. The arboreal ants recorded in this study belong to the genera Crematogaster, Pheidole, Tetramorium, Tapinoma, Technomyrmex, and Monomorium. The lack of pesticide use influences the higher abundance of arboreal ants in organic coffee plants. It is also supported by diverse plant vegetation where coffee was grown in an agroforestry system.
Keywords: biological control, natural enemies, organic coffee, conventional coffee, agroforestry