Parasites and Predators of Laccifer lacca Kerr. on Lac Culture in East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara
Abstract
Lac is one of the most important non-timber forest products and massively cultured in East Nusa Tenggara. It is the resinous secration of lac insects(Laccifer Lacca Kerr) which serves as a shield to protect the insects themselves from their enemy. Parasites and predators of the lac insert are the major problem associated with lac culture and hence potentially decrease lac production significantly. This study identified parasites and predators of the lac insect attacking cultures of lac in East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara. Samples of insects were collected in March 2007 fromHambapraing, Mbatakapidu and Kuta in East Sumba, and identified in the Basic Entomology Laboratory , Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. The new predators were identified as Dolicboderus thoracicus Smith(Hymenoptera:Formicidae) andCatoblemma sumbavensis Hampson(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae). The parasites species found were Aprostocetus purpureus Girault(Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Eupelmus tachardiae Howard (Hymenoptera:Euphelmidae). High populations of parasites and predators are probably caused by poor maintenance and sanitation of the culture area. An in-depth study is needed to investigate the hiperparasitism mechanism in lac cultivation area at East Sumba and this sould be taken as a priority.