Kelimpahan Insekta Polinator (Elaeidobius Kamerunicus Faust.) di PT Perkebunan Nusantara Iv Gunung Bayu, Kabupaten Simalungun Sumatera Utara

Abstract

Weevil Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust is a pollinator insect that breeds and feed only on male inflorescences of oil palm. The body size of pollinator insects is an important factor influencing the effectiveness of pollination. This weevil can carry a charge of pollen on its body. This research was carried out from June to August 2022 with the aim of studying differences in the abundance of pollinator beetles on two plants of different ages at PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV Gunung Bayu, Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra. Field research was conducted by determining location using purposive sampling method and determination of the selected trees using random sampling method. The method used was a yellow sticky trap which was installed at 08.00 for 24 hours near anthesis male inflorescences. Analyze correlation Pearson of physical factors was carried out to see the correlation with abundance. Samples were collected and counted manually. The results of the abundance study obtained at the age of two years of oil palm plants were 17.220 individuals while at the age of four years there were 12.393 individuals. Relative air temperature (r= 0,961, p<0,05) and relative humidity (r= -0,997, p<0,05) correlated with the abundance of pollinator weevils at the age of two years. Environmental physical factors at the age of four years did not have a significant correlation with the abundance of pollinator weevils. The Mann Whitney U test showed that both abundances had significant difference.