International Journal of Research in Engineering and Science (IJRES) ISSN (Online): 2320-9364, ISSN (Print): 2320-9356 www.ijres.org Volume 3 Issue 1 ǁ Jan. 2015 ǁ PP.41-44 www.ijres.org 41 | Page Involvement Of Insects In The Transmission Of Banana Blood Disease Vivi B. Montong 1), Redsway T.D. Maramis 2), Jantje Pelealu 2), and Christina L. Salaki 2) 1) She is Currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the postgraduate program of Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Mob + 62-081356949143. E-mail: montongvivi@gmail.com 2) Faculty of Agriculture, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, North Sulawesi Abstract: Blood Diseases bananas in North Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi, Indonesia caused by Ralstonia solanacearum phylotype IV has existed for decades, but over the past few decades there has been no data on insect visitors banana flower which acts as a carrier of this pathogen. This study aims to determine the insects visitors banana flower can be a vector of R. solanacearum phylotype IV and the number of propagules of these bacteria carried by these insects. In every garden selected by purposive sampling of five to seven flowering tree, then flower-visiting insects were captured using a modified insect net. Insects were sorted according to species and counted the number of each species. Five individuals of each species of insects were placed in pots. Isolation of Ralstonia solanacearum phylotype IV using spread-plate method, then colony forming units (CFU) of virulent R. solanacearum filotipe IV per milliliter was calculated. Oscinella sp was an insect species most committed feeding on banana cv. kepok inflorescence (42.39 individuals), followed by A. melifera (1.47 individuals), Formicidae (0.65 individual), Blaberidae (0.55 individual), and Chelisoches morio (0.39 individual). Oscinella sp. brought 17636.39 to 75533.33 CFU / ml R. solanacearum phylotype IV, Aphis melifera 23500.00 to 26100.00 CFU / ml, Blaberidae 10300.00 to 23690.00 CFU / ml, Formicidae 3600.00 to 8000.00 CFU / ml, and C. morio 340.00 to 8000.00 CFU / ml. Index Terms - North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, R. solanacearum phylotype IV, colony forming units, Oscinella sp., Aphis melifera, Blaberidae, Formicidae, Chelisoches morio I. INTRODUCTION North Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi, located at 01 ° 17 '15' - 01 ° 53 '18.5 "N and 124 ° 43' 51 '- 125 ° 10' 33.7 'E. Total area of North Minahasa Regency is 1059.244 km 2 that is divided into 10 districts and 128 villages.. The average daily temperature varies from 25.4 ° - 27.8 ° C Most of the regions of this district (42.71%) had a flat to gently sloping topography [1]. Climate type is type A (wet climate), with a dry season usually takes place in May to October, and the rainy season in November to April [2]. One of the main limiting factor of banana cultivation in North Minahasa Regency is attack blood disease pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al. filotipe IV [3]. This disease was first discovered in the island Selayar 1910 [4]. Report in 2009 stating that the disease has spread in 13 provinces [5]. R. solanacearum greatly limit the production of bananas, especially banana cultivar kepok. The damage caused by this pathogen is absolute, meaning that if the infected plants in the vegetative and generative phase (infected through flowers) then the plants will die. According to [6] blood disease epidemics can occur due to the availability of susceptible host (banana cv. kepok) continuously, the land has been infected with R. solanacearum, there are insect-borne (spread of pathogens within a short distance or remote), and pathogens can be carried by a machete or other cutting tools. R. solanacearum in living plant tissue does not produce resistant cells to drought and their chances to survive in the ooze that attach to the body of insects [6]. In Uganda, the insects that act as a carrier of bacteria causing wilt of banana is Plebeinadenoiti (Apidae), another apidae species (not identified), species of (Chloropidae, Drosophilidae, and Apis mellifera (Apidae) [7]. Research reports on insects as vectors of R. new solanacearum conducted in Lampung and Java. In Lampung, this bacterium carried by members of the family Chloropidae, Drosophilidae, Flatypezidae, Culicidae, Museidae, Antomyiidae and Sareopangidae (Diptera); Colephoridae (Lepidoptera), Blattidae (Blattaria) and Apidae (Hymenoptera) [8]. According to [9] insect flower visitors that members of Drosopholilidae capable of carrying pathogens through the mouth. In West Sumatra, Trigona spp. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and Drosophila sp. (Diptera: Drosophilidae potential as vectors of R. solanacearum phylotype IV [10]. North Sulawesi have been no reports of research on insects as carriers R. Solanacearum, and also the diversity and abundance of species of banana flower-visiting insects.