Teknik Perbanyakan Masal Predator Menochilus Sexmaculatus Pengendali Serangga Bemisia Tabaci Vektor Virus Kuning Pada Tanaman Cabai

. Muharam, A. and W. Setiawati. 2007. The Mass Propagation Technique of Menochilus sexmaculatus, the Predator of Bemisia tabaci, the Chilli-Yellow-Viruses Transmitting Vector. Bemisia tabaci is apparently known as one of the major pests on chilli pepper. Another important role of the pest is the capability of transmitting gemini virus on chilli pepper causing yellow diseases. A study on mass propagation of M. sexmaculatus, the predator of B. tabaci, was carried out in Screenhouses of Indonesian Vegetable Research Institute, Lembang, from April to November 2006. Consecutive steps of the study were (1) propagation of the predator using a factorial randomized block design, with 4 host plants and 2 preys, and (2) the test of the capability of M. sexmaculatus as the predator of B. tabaci and Myzus persicae, utilyzing a randomized block design with 6 treatments and 4 replications. The results indicated that a correlation was occurred between host plants and preys. The combination of Brassica sinensis as a host plant with M. persicae as a prey resulted in the best treatment for propagation of the predator with eggs production of 893.33, followed by the combinations of Zea mays with M. persicae, and B. sinensis with B. tabaci. One female of M. sexmaculatus was able to produce 140 to 975 eggs within 8 to 11 days, or 12 to 89 eggs per day. The peak of egg production was occurred from the 5th to 7th day. Mortality of M. sexmaculatus larvae was between 28.66 and 45.47%. The best ratio of female and male of the predator was 1 : 1. Within 24 hours the predator was able to attack B. tabaci and M. persicae up to 51.50 and 168.50 larvae, respectively. Life cycle of the predator was between 56 and 78 days: egg 4-5 days, larvae 20-25 days, pupa 4-6 days, and imago for 28-42 days. Female predators attacked B. tabaci much more than male and larvae. Female predators found preys faster than male ones and larvae, 20.33 seconds for 120 preys. The application of M. sexmaculatus for biological control of B. tabaci will obviously decrease the use of synthetic insecticides