Fredrik Depparaba
Balai Pengkajian Teknologi Pertanian Sulawesi Tengah, Jl. Lasoso No. 62 Biromaru, Sulawesi Tengah
ABSTRAK
Penggerek Buah Kakao (PBK) merupakan hama utama pada ekosistem kakao. Hama ini bersifat homodinamik
dan endemik. Para ahli entomologi melaporkan bahwa PBK berasal dari spesies yang sama dengan spesies yang
menyerang buah rambutan tetapi biotipenya berbeda. Biotipe tersebut dapat beradaptasi pada buah kakao, selanjutnya
memencar dan hidup pada suatu daerah. Penyebaran PBK sejalan dengan adanya perluasan areal tanam kakao dan
introduksi bahan tanaman. Serangan PBK dapat menyebabkan kerusakan buah dan kehilangan produksi biji 82,20%.
Penanggulangan PBK sangat terkait dengan bioekologi hama tersebut, dan petani sebagai pelaku pengendalian,
terutama yang terkait dengan motivasi, sikap, kepedulian, budaya asli, pengetahuan lokal, dan kondisi sosial
ekonomi. Cara-cara penanggulangan PBK yang dapat dipadu dengan pengalaman petani adalah: 1) panen lebih
awal dengan interval 5−7 hari, agar siklus hidup PBK dapat terputus, 2) panen semua buah menjelang akhir masa
panen selama 1−2 bulan, disertai pemetikan buah matang yang ada di sekitar kebun sayuran, rambutan, nam-nam,
kola, mangga, serikaya, belimbing, jeruk, dan langsat, 3) membersihkan serasah di permukaan tanah, mengurangi
naungan yang terlalu rapat dengan pemangkasan cabang-cabang horizontal, 4) mematikan kutu putih, kutu hijau,
dan Aphis sp. penghasil embun madu sebagai pakan ngengat PBK, 5) menghindari penggunaan pestisida guna
melestarikan musuh alami PBK, serta tanaman penghasil nektar dipertahankan agar bisa menunjang kelangsungan
hidup musuh alami perlu diusahakan, 6) mengisolasi kebun kakao dari ladang-ladang kecil ("small holder") dengan
"barier" paling sedikit 300 m dan bebas dari tanaman inang alternatif PBK.
Kata kunci: Kakao, penggerek buah, Conopomorpha cramerella, ekobiologi, metode penanggulangan
ABSTRACT
Cacao moth and its control measures
Cacao moth is an important pest at the cacao ecosystem. Characteristic of pest is homo dynamic and
endemic, which is very different to other pests. However, the entomologists reported that the cacao moth species
in Indonesia is the same with the rambutan moth, but their biotypes are different. The biotype or strain adapted
to cacao, can distribute and life in the area. The presence of insects are caused by both expansion of cacao planting
acreage and introduction of cacao plant materials to the cacao production areas. It causes fruit destruction with
loss of seed production of 82.20%. Control measures of cacao moth are interrelated with bioecology of pest, and
farmers as controlling agent. However, it is necessary to understand motivation, attitude and attention of farmers
as well as their local experiences, social and economic conditions. The control methods of cacao moth that can
be integrated with farmer's motivation and experiences are as follows: 1) earlier harvesting followed by 5−7 days
interval harvesting, to cut life cycle of cacao moth, 2) harvest all fruit during 1−2 months, and followed by
harvesting mature fruits of alternative hosts, such as Nephelium lappaceum, Cynometra cauliflora, Cola nitida,
Mangifera indica L, Anona squamosa, Averrhoa carambola L, Citrus sinensis L, Lansium domesticum L., 3)
garden sanitation by cleaning up garbages on soil surface, reduce plant coverage by prunning horizontal branches,
4) kill white fleas, green fleas and Aphis sp. which are honeydew producer as food of cacao moth. Those practices
will limit the population of pupae and the moth, 5) avoid utilization of pesticide to conserve natural enemy of
cacao moth, but maintain nectars-producing plants to support the life of natural enemy, 6) isolate borders among
small holders at least 300 m and free from alternative host plants of cacao moth.
Keywords: Cacao, fruit damaging insects, Conopomorpha cramerella, ecology, biology, control methods
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