Populasi kumbang Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) sebagai penyerbuk tanaman kelapa sawit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) di Kumai, Kalimantan Tengah

Abstract

Elaeidobius kamerunicus is the effective pollinators of oil palm plants. The weevil is monophagous and complete their life cycle in male inflorescences of oil palm. Pollinating by the weevils increase oil palm productivity. This research aimed to observe weevil population and the relationship between environment factors and the weevil population. This research consist of observing morphological of weevil, estimating the population with counting the weevil on male inflorescences, and measuring the environment factors in the field. Relationship between environment factors and the weevil population were analyzed by CANOCO 4.0. High population of the weevil occurred in July and low in October. Population size of the weevil was above the minimum population for effective pollination. Weevil population on the field related to the number of spikelet of male inflorescences. Rainfall and temperature were negatively affect to the weevil population.