DIVERSITY OF NATURAL ENEMY INSECTS ON REFUGIA (Zinnia elegans) IN RED ONION CULTIVATION (Allium cepa), WEST ACEH

Abstract

The production of shallots is fluctuating which means tends to decrease and result in harmony of farmers in terms of economy. One of the causes of pest attacks on aquaculture land, therefore there is a need for control. So this study aims to reduce the number of population of pest insects, and increase the diversity of natural enemy insects in the cultivation of red onion by utilizing the Refugia Zinnia elegans as a edge plant. The research method uses a non -factorial random group design with 5 treatments (Zinnea elegans), and 5 replications, data analysis by calculating the number of insect populations, predators, parasitoid Insects found in the Refugia Zinnia elegans plant are cultivated red onion. Observations are made every week since the plant is two weeks old until harvest. The results showed that the number of population of pest insects obtained in red onion plants with fewer refugia plants namely Gryllotalpa spp 12, Spodoptera exigua 18 tails, Spodoptera litura 26 tails, Liriomyza chinensis 20 tails, compared to the number of pest populations that do not use refugia plants as The edge plant namely Gryllotalpa spp 38 tails, Spodoptera exigua 28 tails, Spodoptera litura 56 tails, Liriomyza chinensis 50 tails. From the results of the results obtained show that by planting Zinnia Elegans around the area of red onion cultivation as a biological control, can reduce pest attacks on the red onion cultivation land, West Aceh. There are 5 ordo of natural enemy insects found in the planting area namely Araneae, Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Dermaptera. The diversity index obtained is 1.92, with the category of moderate species diversity size (1 <h '<3), which means there is a balance and stability in the red onion cultivation ecosystem