Population Distribution of the Bagworm Pteroma pendula Joannis There are oil palm plants (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in the Begerpang Plantation of PT.PP London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk.
Abstract
The bagworm Pteroma pendula is a major pest of oil palm plantations and can significantly reduce crop productivity. This study was conducted in Division 03 of Begerpang Estate, PT PP London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk, on three-year-old oil palm plants. The research employed a field survey method through population censuses on selected sample palms and six surrounding palms. Infestation levels were categorized as light, moderate, and severe, with a total of 105 sample palms selected across these categories. The observed parameters included the number of eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult population density on the fronds, and the distribution pattern of larvae on the apical, middle and basal sections of the fronds. The results showed that the population of P. pendula increased with increasing infestation severity. The average population density under light infestation ranged from 0.0 to 2.2 individuals per frond, while moderate infestation ranged from 6.1 to 8.2 individuals per frond, and severe infestation reached 14.1–39.2 individuals per frond. The population on the sample palms was higher than that on the six surrounding palms, with mean larval populations of 53.2 and 44.2 larvae, respectively. In contrast, the surrounding palms harbored only 20.5 and 18.5 larvae on average. Larval activity was predominantly concentrated in the apical section of the fronds, accounting for 53.9–66.7% of the total population, compared with the middle and basal sections of the fronds. The results indicated that the sample palms were the primary centers of infestation. In contrast, the six surrounding palms could not fully represent the sample palms because of significant differences in population density. Larval activity was predominantly concentrated at the apical section of the fronds, suggesting that this area is the most suitable site for population monitoring. These findings provide a basis for the development of an Early Warning System (EWS) to support effective bagworm management in oil palm plantations.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Resty Fadhillah Yollanda, Ahmad Saleh, Makhrani Sari Ginting
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