An ethnobiological study of pest management in Situbondo District, East Java community

Abstract. Syahputra A, Asyiah IN, Iqbal M. 2019. An ethnobiological study of pest management in Situbondo District, East Java community. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 5: 439-443. Situbondo District is one of the regions with the greatest agricultural potential in East Java Province. The local wisdom of the Situbondo District community in farming can be an option in ethnobiology studies related to knowledge about controlling pests and crops diseases through the use of predators and refugia plants. The research was conducted in two sub-districts with the greatest agricultural potential in Situbondo, namely Panarukan and Asembagus, starting in December 2018-March 2019. This research was conducted using sampling techniques in the form of purposive sampling and snowball sampling, and using open-ended interviews, participant observation, and documentation in the data collection technique. The data obtained were analyzed using the calculation of use-value and fidelity level to find out the level of use of organisms and the level of people's preference. The results showed 11 animal species and 12 plant species used in controlling pests and crops diseases. Among these species, the use-value and the fidelity level reached 0.97 and 96.67%, respectively, so the level of use in the community of Situbondo is very high. The pests and crops diseases based on local wisdom are part of the concept of integrated pests control, so that it can be used as a basic for developing sustainable agricultural potential.  Keywords: Agriculture, crops, ethnobiology, pests, predators