Hama Baru Tungau Kelapa Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) pada Tanaman Kelapa di Minahasa Utara dan Kota Bitung, Sulawesi Utara - MELDY L.A. HOSANG; A.A. LOLONG; N. LUMENTUT; DIANA NOVIANTI; nFn RAHMA; nFn SALIM (Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Perkebunan, 2013)
Tungau kelapa Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) merupakan salah satu hama yang sangat merusak pada tanaman kelapa di India dan Sri Lanka tetapi belum pernah dilaporkan menyerang tanaman kelapa di Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi penyebab kerusakan buah kelapa dan tingkat serangan hama pada pertanaman kelapa di lapangan. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Kabupaten Minahasa Utara, Kota Bitung, Provinsi Sulawesi Utara dan di Laboratorium Entomologi dan Fitopatologi, Balai Penelitian Tanaman Palma sejak bulan Oktober – Desember 2012. Pada setiap lokasi dipilih secara acak 5-10 tanaman kelapa yang sudah berproduksi dan berumur sekitar 20-40 tahun. Setiap tanaman contoh dipanjat kemudian diamati kerusakan bunga, buah dan produksi tanaman kelapa. Diambil contoh bunga dan buah terserang dan diamati di laboratorium. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa hama yang merusak tanaman kelapa di Kabupaten Minahasa Utara dan Kota Bitung adalah tungau kelapa A. guerreronis. Hama ini pertama kali dilaporkan terjadi ledakan populasi di Desa Winuri, Kecamatan Likupang Timur, Kabupaten Minahasa Utara dan beberapa desa di Kota Bitung, Provinsi Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia. Contoh buah asal Kabupaten Minahasa Utara yang menunjukkan gejala serangan, ternyata persentase buah yang ditemukan tungau Aceria guerreronis bervariasi antara 50,00 – 87,67% dan di Kota Bitung 45,71 – 89,29%. Kata kunci: Kelapa, hama baru, tungau, Aceria guerreronis.ABSTRACTNew Pest of Coconut Mite Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) on Coconut Plantation in North Minahasa and Bitung Regency, North SulawesiCoconut mite Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) is one of the most destructive pests of coconut in India and Sri Lanka, but has not previously been reported in coconut palm in Indonesia. The objective of this study were to confirm the previous report by identifying the mite and determining the level of coconut damage in the field. The research was conducted in North Minahasa and Bitung Regencies, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia and in the laboratory of Entomology and Phytopathology, Indonesian Palm Crops Research Institute from October to December 2012. At each location 5 to 10 mature palms of 20 to 40 years old were randomly selected. Samples of infested female flowers, and nuts were taken by climbing the palm and the level of damages were estimated in the laboratory. Coconut production of the infested palms were determined by climbing the palm and counting the nuts per bunch. The results confirmed that cocout palm in North Minahasa regency and Bitung City have been infested by coconut mite A. guerreronis. This pest was first reported in the outbreak area at Winuri Village, East Likupang District, North Minahasa regency and some villages in Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The percentage of A. guerreronis infestation in the coconuts from North Minahasa and Bitung regencies varied between 50.00 to 87.67% and between 45.71 to 89.29, repectively.