PERKEMBANGAN POPULASI Elaeidobius kamerunicus FAUST PASCA INTRODUKSI DAN PENINGKATAN FRUIT SET KELAPA SAWIT DI PULAU SERAM, MALUKU, INDONESIA

Elaeidobius kamerunicus is the main pollinating agent in oil palm plantations in Indonesia today. The development of oil palm plantations in new areas requires introduction of these insects, moreover the new areas are located on different islands. First introduction of Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust had been done from North Sumatra to Seram Island on 23 September 2013. The introduction was performed on larva and pupa stadium in 4-5 days post anthesising of male inflorescences. The introduction of E. kamerunicus using plywood boxes has an average risk of death by 7.89% at 6 days delivery period. Observation before releasing of the weevils showed that this insect was not detected in both of oil palm male and female flowers and the oil palm fruit set was very low approximately 11.27%. For about 500 weevils/ha were released in Marnuhu estate and could be developed into 362,401 weevils/ha in 5 months with 97.86% of oil palm sex ratio. The oil palm fruit sets were increased after 1 and 2 months introduction, 53.70% and 75.56 %, respectively. The lower sex ratio of oil palm or the more availability of male inflorescences make growth of E. kamerunicus population became faster and the greater number of weevils that visiting anthesising of female flowers make the higher value of oil palm fruit set.Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust merupakan serangga penyerbuk utama pada perkebunan kelapa sawit di Indonesia saat ini. Pengembangan perkebunan kelapa sawit di areal yang baru memerlukan introduksi serangga ini terutama jika areal baru tersebut berada di pulau yang berbeda dan dibatasi oleh lautan yang cukup luas. Upaya pengiriman E. kamerunicus telah dilakukan dari Sumatra Utara ke Pulau Seram, Maluku. Introduksi E. kamerunicus dilakukan pada stadia larva dan kepompong di dalam tandan bunga jantan 4-5 hari lewat mekar. Pengiriman ke Pulau Seram merupakan introduksi pertama kali yang ditunjukkan dengan tidak dijumpainya serangga ini pada bunga jantan maupun betina kelapa sawit dan nilai fruit set kelapa sawit yang sangat rendah sebesar 11,27%. Introduksi awal sekitar 500 kumbang/ha dapat berkembang menjadi 362.401 kumbang/ha dalam waktu 5 bulan dengan sex ratio kelapa sawit sekitar 97%. Satu bulan pasca introduksi, fruit set kelapa sawit yang dihasilkan dengan populasi tersebut mencapai 75,56%. Semakin rendah sex ratio kelapa sawit atau semakin banyak ketersediaan bunga jantan kelapa sawit maka semakin cepat perkembangan populasi kumbang E. kamerunicus dan semakin banyak jumlah kumbang yang berkunjung ke bunga betina mekar sehingga semakin tinggi nilai fruit set kelapa sawit yang dihasilkan