UNIB International PhD Student Maps Mealybug Diversity on Oil Palms Across Various Regions of Bengkulu Province
BENGKULU – The Doctoral Program (PhD) in Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu (UNIB) continues to demonstrate its active contribution to advancing agricultural research and solving real-world farming challenges. Recently, one of the program’s international doctoral students, Mehreen Ayaz, conducted intensive field research along the western coastal region of Bengkulu Province.
The fieldwork took place over the weekend, from Saturday to Sunday, May 23–24, 2026. Mehreen tracked a route spanning from North Bengkulu Regency all the way to Mukomuko Regency, an area widely recognized as one of the major hubs for oil palm and palmae plantations in the region.
This field excursion is a crucial milestone for her doctoral dissertation, titled “Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Diversity and Natural Enemies on Palmae Plants, and Their Biological Management Using Predators, Parasitoids, and Botanical Extracts.” Her research specifically focuses on mapping the diversity of mealybugs and their natural enemies on plants within the Palmae family, while seeking eco-friendly biological control strategies leveraging predators, parasitoids, and botanical extracts.
During the two-day expedition, the primary objective was the systematic collection of mealybug samples directly from host plants in both community-owned and commercial plantations. The pest specimens, found closely attached to the fruits and leaves of oil palms, were carefully harvested and preserved. These samples will be brought back to the laboratory for precise taxonomic identification.
The active field presence of an international researcher like Mehreen Ayaz in studying local high-value commodities highlights UNIB’s growing global academic footprint. Her research is expected not only to yield high-impact scientific publications for her graduation but also to provide actionable, sustainable biological solutions for farmers and agricultural industries dealing with pest management challenges.
