Abstract

Background and Objective: High number of cocoa black ants (CBA) in cocoa plantations are of great significant benefit in controlling cocoa pod borer (CPB) and one of the strategies is to manipulate the CBA nesting behavior. This study focused on the preference of the types of materials for the artificial nests in order to achieve high population. Materials and Methods: Six types of materials were used in building the artificial nests for observation of the CBA nesting preferences. From the results of the most preferable materials for the black ant nest, dry cocoa leaves were used as artificial nest to investigate the establishment of black ant colony, due to the reliability and availability in the plantations. Results: The number of 3639.0 and 3273.7 black ants were recorded inside coconut and dry cocoa leaves, respectively. Only 306.6 ants were discovered from synthetic materials nests. In fourteen months of observation, the CBA colony enlarged and established inside dry cocoa leaves nests and their number continuously increased until the end of the study. Conclusion: The dry cocoa leaves were the most suitable materials for artificial nest and CBA colony established well in the dry cocoa leaf nest. These artificial nests can be used to establish black ants for biological control of CPB in cocoa plantation.