POTENSI BAKTERI ENTOMOPATOGEN SEBAGAI BIOPESTISIDA HAMA ULAT GRAYAK Spodoptera litura

The tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura is a major pest attacking various cultivated crops and causing significant economic losses. Control of this pest still largely relies on chemical insecticides, which may negatively affect the environment and human health and induce pest resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of entomopathogenic bacteria isolated from dead larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda as biological control agents against S. litura larvae. Seven bacterial isolates were tested for pathogenicity against third-instar larvae using the leaf-dipping method. Larval mortality and pathogenicity symptoms were observed, and mortality data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. The results showed significant differences in larval mortality among treatments. Isolates BUG5 and BUG4 exhibited the highest mortality rates of 46.67% and 40%, respectively, accompanied by distinct pathological symptoms. Based on morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, BUG4 and BUG5 were presumed to be related to the genera Enterobacter and Microbacterium, respectively. These findings indicate that entomopathogenic bacteria have potential as environmentally friendly biopesticides for controlling S. litura.