The Potential of Flowering Weeds as Refugia for Predatory Insects at Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park, South Sulawesi

Abstract

A study on identication of owering weeds as predatory
insect alternative foods was conducted at Bantimurung-
Bulusaraung National Park, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
in February 2013. Among the plants that naturally grow
in the national park area Cassia siamea and
Clerodendron paniculatum, which were source of nectar
for insects, particularly butteries. Visits of predatory
insect to owering weeds and species of both insects
and owering weeds were recorded. The preferred
owering weeds visited by the predatory insects are C.
striata (Papilionaceae), A.conyzoides (Asteraceae) and
L. camara (Verbenaceae) followed by S. nodiflora
(Asteraceae), S. rhombifolia (Malvaceae) and L.
crustacea (Scrophulariaceae). A large number of adults
and pupae of Coccinella sp. was found in the
Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park.

Keywords : nectar, pollen, alternative host, weeds,
Indonesia