Inflorescence attractivity and dynamics of emergence of Elaeidobius sp . (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a key pollinator in oil palm agrosystem in Cameroon
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Elaeidobius spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are essential for the pollination of oil palms. Elaeidobius kamerunicus is the most studied pollinator weevil of oil palms. Elaeidobius subvittatus and E. plagiatus , which are also common, are less studied. An experiment aimed at comparing visits to oil palm inflorescences, the dynamics of emergence, and the pollination efficiency of these three species in Cameroon showed that E. plagiatus and E. kamerunicus emerged more rapidly from the male inflorescences (2.6 days and 5.6 days, respectively) than E. subvittatus (17.5 days) . Additionally, female inflorescences attracted Elaeidobius spp. primarily at stage D 1 of anthesis, and the male inflorescences attracted the weevils primarily at the stages D 1 , D 2 , and D 3 . For the entire anthesis period of male inflorescences, more E. subvittatus were trapped than E. kamerunicus or E. plagiatus (168, 72, and 35 specimens per trap, respectively). A similar distribution was observed for female inflorescences (12, 7, and 1 specimens per trap, respectively). The male of E. kamerunicus showed the highest score of pollen load (1.6 compared with less than 0.8 for the other Elaeidobius species). This confirms the choice of E. kamerunicus as the most efficient pollinator. However, more experiments are needed to investigate the complementarity of the different species as well as the dispersal capability of these weevils in different climatic conditions to establish the relationship between Elaeidobius spp . and fruit set.
Source: OCL
DOI: 10.1051/ocl/2026021
Authors: Christophe Petit, Albert Flori, Emilienne Ngo Mboua, Samuel Efemba, Huguette Meyobeme, Brigitte Frérot, Laurence Beaudoin-Ollivier
Institutions: Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, ABSys, Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale, Higher Institute for Scientific and Medical Research, Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris
Language: English
Topic: Plant and animal studies
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7213974997