Population and activities of curculionids beetle in snake fruit (Salacca zalacca)

Abstract

Snake fruit (Salacca zalacca), an Indonesian native palm, has high economic value. This plant has a dioecious inflorescence. At the present time, pollination of snake fruit plants was still conducted by a human. Until now, some insect visitors as a pollinator of the plants were reported, such as stingless bees (Apidae) and curculionid beetles (Curculionidae). In this study, we study the population and activities of curculionid beetles in snake fruit plantations. Three plantations of snake fruit in Sumatera were used to observe beetle populations, i.e., Gunung Leuser National Park (Aceh), Padang Sidempuan (Medan), and Riak Siabun (Bengkulu). The sampling method was used to measure beetle populations by observed directly beetle population on the panicle (flowers). Observation of beetle activities was done by purposive sampling method in 08.00-12.00 am. Results showed that the highest beetle population (23096 individuals) occurred in Riak Siabun, Bengkulu. The highest visiting activity of beetle occurred in the morning.