UNCOVERING THE INSECT ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY IN SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas) FIELD IN BESUT, TERENGGANU

Mohamad Akmal Aliff Karim, Salmah Mohamed, Norhayati Ngah, Nur Athiqah Md Yusof, Mohammad Hailmi Sajili, Mohd Fahmi Abu Bakar, Hafizan Juahir

Abstract


Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a vital crop, but its production is often threatened by insect infestations, causing significant yield losses. However, abundance and diversity of both pest and beneficial insects in a sweet potato field remain underexplored, hindering the development of effective pest management strategies. This study aims to identify pest and beneficial insects associated with sweet potatoes, determine their population abundance and diversity, and analyze their relationship with abiotic factors. Insect sampling was conducted in a one-hectare sweet potato field at UniSZA Besut Campus, Terengganu, using three Malaise traps, five pitfall traps, and five yellow pan traps. Insects were collected weekly for 10 weeks (August–October 2024) and identified in the laboratory. A total of 10,642 individual insects from nine orders with 52 families were successfully collected. Among them, 34 families were beneficial insects, while 18 families were pests. Hymenoptera had the highest number of beneficial insects (16 families), while Lepidoptera had the most pest collected (six families). The overall insect diversity (H' = 2.361) showed a low diversity level. Rainfall and temperature were significantly correlated (P<0.05) with insect abundance. These findings highlight the diverse insect community in sweet potato fields and emphasize the importance of beneficial insects in regulating pest populations. Understanding insect diversity and its relationship with environmental factors is crucial for developing sustainable pest management strategies, reducing pesticide reliance, and maintaining a balanced agroecosystem.


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