Penggunaan mulsa atau penutup tanah dapat mempengaruhi iklim mikro tanah dan dapat mempengaruhi aktivitas biota tanah termasuk mengendalikan intensitas serangan hama. Tujuan penelitian yakni menguraikan insidensi hama, dan membandingkan pengaruh jenis mulsa terhadap intensitas serangan hama pada budidaya tanaman semangka. Penelitian menggunakan metode percobaan dengan perlakuan penggunaan mulsa jerami, mulsa plastik hitam, dan mulsa plastik silver, serta tanpa mulsa. Masing-masing perlakuan diulang sebanyak 6 (enam) kali dan disusun dalam Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK). Parameter penelitian yakni insidensi hama atau jenis hama yang ditemukan, dan intensitas kerusakan hama. Data dianalisis menggunakan Analisis Ragam (Anova) dan Uji Duncan (DMRT). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan hama yang ditemukan pada budidaya semangka menggunakan mulsa terdiri dari belalang, jangkrik, kutu daun, lalat buah, penggorok daun, siput, ulat grayak, dan tikus. Insidensi atau perjumpaan hama terendah pada penggunaan mulsa plastik silver (286 perjumpaan), dan tertinggi pada perlakuan tanpa mulsa dan mulsa jerami (594 dan 494 perjumpaan). Intensitas serangan atau kerusakan daun hama tertinggi terjadi pada perlakuan tanpa mulsa dan mulsa jerami, mencapai 26.67% pada 2 MST, dan terendah pada mulsa plastik silver yang mencapai 8.89% pada 4 MST. Kerusakan pada buah mencapai 40.83%. Sedangkan, penggunaan mulsa plastik silver kerusakan hanya mencapai 21.11%.
Kata Kunci: Hama, Insidensi, Intensitas Kerusakan, Mulsa, Semangka

The use of mulch or ground cover can affect the microclimate of the soil and the activity of soil biota, including controlling the intensity of pest attacks. The purpose of the study was to describe the incidence of pests and compare the effect of the typenof mulch on the intensity of pest attacks on watermelon cultivation.The study used an axperimental method with treatmen using straw mulch, black plastic mulch ,silver plastic mulch, and without mulch, Each treatment was repeated (six) 6 times and arranged in a Randomized Block Design (RAK). The research parameters were the incidence of pests or types of pests found, and the intensity of pest damage. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variety (ANOVA) and Duncan`ns Test (DMRT). The results showed that the pests found in watermelon cultivation using mulch consisted of grasshoppers, crickets, aphids, fruit flies, leaf miners, snails, armyworms, and rats. The lowest incidence or encounters of pests were in the application of silver plastic mulch (286 found) and the highest in the treatment without mulch and straw mulch (594 and 494 Found). The intensity of pets attack or leaf damage was highes in the treatment without mulch and straw mulch, reaching 26,67% at 2 WAP, and the lowest was in the silver plastic mulch reached 8.89% at 4 WAP. Damage to the fruit reched 40.83%. Meanwhile, the use of silver mulch reached 21.11% damage. Keywords: pest, incidence, intensity of damage, mulch, watermelon