Entomofauna of Oil Palm Tree Inflorescences at La Mé Experimental Station (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Pollination of oil palm tree is mainly entomophilous. The inflorescences of this plant lodge many insects. The identification and quantification of these insects have proven ability to hold their pollination. The entomofauna of female and male inflorescenc es was inventoried and quantified at La ME, a station of CNRA, the National Center of Agronomic Research of CUte d'Ivoire (West Africa) for a period of 2 years. The insects of the male inflorescences were listed at the beginning, the full and the end of an thesis on 1536spikeletsof 384 male inflorescences. For the insects of female inflorescences, 96 inflorescences were covered with a muslin sheath. The insects arriving on these inflorescences were captured in 2 days corresponding to anthesis length, durin g 10 minutes per hour, from 6 am to 6 pm. Species Elaeidobiussp., Microporumsp., Prosoestussp.and Athetaburgeoniwere common and regular present regardless of inflorescence type. Species Gabrius sp., Thrips sp., Anthocoridesp., Lithargussp.and thebees (Nomia sp.and Apismellifera)were rarely observed in female inflorescences.Elaeidobiuskamerunicus and Prosoestus sp.were more abundant on the female than on the male inflorescences. The higher level of insects was observed in full anthesis onmale inflorescences whereas among female inflorescences it was noted at the first day of flowering. Knowledge of the insect fauna of oil palm inflorescences according to different stages of flowering allows better management of pollination.