Species Composition of Rice Stem Borers in Bone Regency, South Sulawesi

Abstract

Rice stem borers are one of the important pest groups in rice plants that can cause damage during both the vegetative and generative stages and potentially reduce yield. Information on the species composition of rice stem borers in a given region is needed to determine the presence and dominance of species as a basis for effective pest management. The purpose of this study is to determine the species composition of rice stem borers collected from rice fields in Bone Regency, South Sulawesi. Adult insects were collected using two methods: confining rice plants showing deadheart symptoms for approximately 15 days and setting up light traps for one growing season. The adults collected were identified based on their morphological characteristics, and the proportion of each species was then calculated. The results of the plant enclosure experiment showed two species: Scirpophaga innotata (70%) and Scirpophaga incertulas (30%). Meanwhile, the light traps yielded three species: S. innotata (57.39%), S. incertulas (36.45%), and Chilo suppressalis (6.16%). Overall, the species composition of rice stem borer pests in Bone Regency consists of S. innotata, S. incertulas, C. suppressalis and Sesamia inferens. Scirpophaga innotata is the most dominant species based on the proportion of adults collected through plant trapping and light traps.