Effect of flowering plants on population dynamics of rice stem borers and their natural enemies

Flowering plants can be used as refugia area for pests' natural enemies. The aim of this research was to study the effect of planting flowering plants in rice field border on the population dynamics of rice stem borers and their natural enemies. The experiment was arranged in a split plot design, with three replicates, the main plots were types of flowering plants i.e., Tagetes (Tageteserecta L.), sunflower (Heliantusannus L.) and without flowering plants (control); the sub plot were rice varieties i.e., Ciherang and Pandan Putri. Rice were planted in a plot sized 8 x 4 m and the flowering plants were planted along side of the rice plots. The results showed that the population of rice stem borer was significantly higher on control plots than those on plots bordered with flowering plants. Population of natural enemies was significantly lower on rice plots without flowering plants than that on plots bordered with flowering plants. There were significantly more natural enemies in the plots bordered with sunflower than Tagetes. The results indicated that planting sunflowers along the rice field could suppress rice stem borers population and reduced the damage intensity.