Studies into entomophil pollination of oil palm in Ghana

Abstract

The rate of fruit set and the insects associated with the male and female inflorescences of the oil palm were studied. Fruit set rates were uniform within each year of study. The fruit to bunch ratio was greater than 70%. The Elaeidobius spp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae; Derelominae) were the dominant insects on the male inflorescence in anthesis. Other insects observed were the Prosoestus spp., Microporum spp. (Coleoptera: Nitudilidae) and Atheta spp. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). The same groups of insects occurred on the female inflorescence. The peak period of insect movement towards the female flower in anthesis was between 10.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.



JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 1 Number 2, January (1999) pp. 70-77