Eco-friendly oil-based botanical insecticides for cocoa, efficient in safeguarding non-target species from natural predators of formicide

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is a major tropical cash crop in Indonesia, but yields are constrained by the cocoa pod borer (Conopomorpha cramerella), which can cause ۳۰–۵۰ percent losses. Conventional pyrethroid use often leads to resistance and harms non-target organisms; therefore, eco-friendly alternatives that preserve natural enemies are urgently needed. The study objectives were to evaluate oil-based botanical insecticides from Reutealis trisperma (candlenut) and Cerbera manghas (bintaro) for cocoa pod borer control and for impacts on non-target ants (Formicidae). METHODS: Field trials were conducted in South Sulawesi using a randomized complete block design (eight treatments × four replicates). Treatments included Reutealis trisperma and Cerbera manghas oil formulations (۵ and ۱۰ milliliters), a combined plant extract, lambda-cyhalothrin (۱ milliliter), and untreated control. Applications were made with a knapsack sprayer every ۱۵ days for six cycles. Thirty healthy pods per sampled tree were tagged and monitored for infestation, damage severity, and yield loss, which was estimated using a published regression model. Non-target monitoring focused on Formicidae; visual counts were recorded at each sampling and classified using an ordinal scale (+ = ۱–۱۰; ++ = ۱۱–۲۰; +++ = ۲۱–۳۰ ants per tree). Infestation, yield, and egg-laying suppression were analyzed by analysis of variance and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at α = ۰.۰۵, while Formicidae data were summarized descriptively due to low field densities. FINDINGS: Botanical oil treatments significantly reduced cocoa pod borer infestation compared with the control (p < ۰.۰۵), decreasing from ۳۵–۷۲ percent initially to ۰–۱۰ percent by the fifth application; lambda-cyhalothrin showed no advantage (۳۹–۴۶ percent). Yield loss remained low in botanical treatments (۰.۰۰–۰.۹۸ percent) compared with ۱۱.۷۱ percent in the synthetic treatment, and egg-laying suppression reached ۹۰–۱۰۰ percent. Formicidae abundance remained in the low (+) category across botanical treatments, whereas the control averaged ++. No consistent treatment-related declines in ant abundance were observed. Phytotoxicity was minor and temporary. CONCLUSION: R. trisperma and C. manghas oil formulations are effective in suppressing cocoa pod borer and in conserving ants natural enemies under the conditions tested. These botanical insecticides therefore provide a viable, environmentally safer component of integrated pest management for sustainable cocoa production, with potential to reduce reliance on persistent synthetic pesticides when integrated with improved formulation and extension support.

کلیدواژه ها:

botanical insecticides ، Conopomorpha cramerella ، sustainable pest management ، cocoa pest control ، eco-friendly pest control ، natural enemies