Population Census of Fire Caterpillars (Setora Nitens Walker) in Oil Palm Plantations (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) in the Begerpang Plantation of PT PP London Sumatera Indonesia TBK
Abstract
The fire caterpillar Setora nitens Walker (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) is a major pest of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and causes significant economic losses through defoliation. This study aimed to analyze the population of S. nitens in two front observation schemes, PE1 (fronts 9, 17, 25) and PE2 (fronts 8, 16, 24), and to identify the dominant positions of larvae and the attack level as a basis for control. The study was conducted at Division 03 Naga Timbul, Begerpang Plantation of PT PP London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk., Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra Province, from February to April 2026. Sample trees were determined using purposive sampling based on classifications of light, moderate, and heavy attacks, with parameters including the number of eggs, live larvae, dead larvae, and pupae on the sample tree and six surrounding trees. The highest population of live larvae was found in the heavy attack category, with 469 individuals (PE1) and 177 individuals (PE2), averaging 21.4 individuals per tree. The highest number of pupae reached 394 individuals in the same category, indicating a potential risk of population explosion in the next generation. The dominant larvae were found in positions 1A and 1B at the tips of the 9th and 17th leaf sheaths, on the underside of the leaf, while no eggs were observed during the study. This is the first empirical comparison of the effectiveness of PE1 and PE2 in the field, as well as the establishment of the most representative anatomical positions of the leaf sheaths as a reference for standardizing pest censuses. It is recommended that control measures be prioritized in blocks with severe infestations, with monitoring focused on the 9th and 17th leaf sheaths at the tips of the underside of the leaf.
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