Formulation of Artificial Diet to Increase Population Distribution and Aggressive Behavior of Weaver Ant (Oecophylla Smaragdina F.) For Controling Cocoa Pod Borer (Conopomorpha Cramerella Sn.)

This study aims to determine the effect of artificial diet formulation on the increase of population and aggressive predation of weaver ants (Rangrang). This research was conducted in several regions and districts in South Sulawesi in March to December 2013. This study was conducted were randomized group design which consists of 4 treatments with 5 replicates. The treatments consisted of 1 g brown sugar pellet, 1 g shrimp pellet, 1g chicken intestine pellet, and control (without pellet). Each treatment (pellet) was tied and 2 m above ground to pod with a distance of 4 m from natural nests. In this study, 10 cocoa trees with ants and 10 trees without ants were used as samples. The results of this study showed that ant population and distribution were still low during the initial stage of this study. However, as the time elapsed, the population increased tremendously and it distributed widely. The intensity of pod damage due to cocoa pod borer was generally low on trees with artificial diet treatment and moderately to high intensities on trees without the artificial diet.