Population of oil palm pollinator insect (Elaeidobius kamerunicus faust.) at PTP Nusantara VIII Cisalak Baru, Rangkasbitung-Banten

Abstract

Abstract The role of Elaeidobius kamerunicus in oil palm plantations in recent times is questioned related to the decline in oil palm productivity. The research aim is to study the E. kamerunicus beetle population and the factors that influence it. The study was carried out in the oil palm plantation PTP Nusantara VIII Cisalak Baru, Rangkasbitung-Banten. The beetle population were calculated on 3 spikelets at the base, middle, and end of an anthesis flower bunch of oil palm plant samples aged 13 and 5 years using purposive sampling method. Observation were carried out 3 times in May, September and November 2015. Morphological observation of beetle E.Kamerunicus was carried out in Balittro laboratory. The results showed that the population of E. kamerunicus in the study area was quite abundant and fluctuated. The average population of E. kamerunicus in oil palm plantation in May, September and November, are 15.168, 6.139, and 37.575 insect/ha in plantations aged 13 years, and 11.205, 7.534, and 49.209 insect / ha in oil palm plantation aged 5 years with the higest population occur in November. The fluctuation seem influenced by environmental factors such as rainfall, the present of rats as natural enemy, and the number of spikelet.