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Predatory Activities of Oecophylla smaragdina in Citrus Plantation<br />

Area at Taman Pertanian Negeri Sekayu, Terengganu<br />

Nabilah bt. Zolkepli<br />

Supervisor: Dr. Norasmah Bt. Basari<br />

Bachelor of Applied Science<br />

(Biodiversity Conservation and Management)<br />

School of Marine and Environmental Sciences<br />

A field study was conducted to determine the possibility of the Oecophylla<br />

smaragdina (weaver ant) as biological control agent in citrus plantation area at<br />

Taman Pertanian Negeri Sekayu Terengganu. The weaver ant was found<br />

preyed on various types of insect pest in citrus and other agriculture plant<br />

during their foraging activity.The result showed, that 79% of pest and only<br />

21% non-pest insect caught by O. smaragdina during their foraging activity.<br />

The highest number of insect pests is from family Hemiptera which dominated<br />

about 33.3% of pest insect in citrus farm area that were caught by weaver<br />

ants. The results also showed only 10.5% of the prey is considered as the main<br />

pest insect in citrus plant, another 89.5% was a pest insect for other agriculture<br />

plants. This study was conducted to reduce an issue of the farmer, on handling<br />

the pest insect of citrus and other agriculture plant in citrus farm area by using<br />

the O. smaragdina.<br />

1781 | UMT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH DAY 2018

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