Young Lecturer of IPB University Explains the Importance of Insects in Urban Area

Nadzirum Mubin SP., MSi., is one of the young lecturers of IPB from the Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University who is majoring in the field of Entomology. The world of Entomology is not only limited to agricultural areas, but there are many more such as Forestry Entomology, Aquatic Entomology, to Settlement Entomology or Urban Entomology. On the occasion of the webinar organized by the University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Nadzir tried various experiences about the importance of insects in the Urban Area in order to preserve them from extinction and their implications for life on Saturday, March 26, 2022.

Insects are a group of animals that have a relatively small size but have an important role. Insects have various roles such as predators, decomposers and pollinators which are good roles for insects, but sometimes insects also have a less beneficial role because they cause health problems and even damage or damage human property.

Nadzir explained that insects in settlements are often depicted with harmful insects such as cockroaches, flies, ants, termites, mosquitoes, bed bugs and others. Disturbances such as health problems, for example caused by fire ants (Solenopsis invicta), mild symptoms due to fire ant stings are itching, but symptoms followed by allergies can cause skin irritation and even death. Food visited by cockroaches can be contaminated by microorganisms such as fungi and pathogenic bacteria. When pathogenic microbes are ingested and enter the human digestive tract, common health problems are allergies (runny nose, skin irritation, eye irritation) to difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis. Mosquitoes are also very important residential insects and are a concern every year that reaches the World Health Organization (WHO). Health problems caused by mosquitoes range from itching due to stylet puncture from mosquitoes to mosquitoes carrying viruses (dengue, zika, chikungunya, yellow fever) which can cause death. Due to health problems that harm humans and cause death, insects such as ants, cockroaches and mosquitoes are important residential insects for management and even control.

The control process is generally carried out in an easy and effective way, for example the use of insecticides. However, due to the intensive use of pesticides in controlling insect pests, many issues have arisen that there is a population decline. However, it is slightly different for residential insects. Instead of decreasing their population, the population of controlled settlement insects becomes resistant or immune. Many reports of settlement insects such as cockroaches (Blatella germanica), flies (Musca domestica), mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Anopheles gambiae). Improper use of control techniques can lead to resistance induction. Insects will make self-defense for their survival in order to maintain their existence in nature, concluded Nadzir.

Along with the development of the world of science, researchers have implemented various alternative control methods, one of which is the use of Wolbachia bacteria. The success story has been carried out by colleagues from the World Mosquito Program/WMP from the Faculty of Medicine, UGM. The WMP team has managed cases of Dengue/DHF by inducing Wolbachia bacteria into the body of Ae mosquitoes. aegypti. Mosquitoes containing Wolbachia bacteria will inhibit the development of the dengue virus in the mosquito's body, so that mosquitoes that are already infected with the dengue virus do not transmit the virus to people and cases of dengue can begin to be controlled with the introduction of Wolbachia.

In a presentation by Mr. Nadzir, it is known that the first reports of dengue cases have been around since 1968 and until now (in 2022) there are still cases of dengue fever. Health problems have become a concern that has been around for a very long time because it is related to a person's life. There are always dengue cases, even during the Covid-19 pandemic that hit Indonesia, this dengue case was also present in the midst of it. For this reason, mosquito management is very important so that dengue cases in Indonesia can be lost. There are many management techniques offered, starting from cleaning puddles, draining the bath, as well as the latest technique, namely introducing Wolbachia mosquitoes.