LIFE CYCLE AND DEVELOPMENT PERIODS OF OIL PALM POLLINATING WEEVIL, ELAEIDOBIUS KAMERUNICUS FAUST, 1878 (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) FROM OIL PALM PLANTATIONS IN MALAYSIA

The pollinating weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus, was introduced to Malaysia in 1981 to foster the production of oil palm fruit bunches. The weevil plays a significant role in the pollination of oil palm. This study aims to determine the life cycle, development period, body size and longevity of oil palm pollinating weevils in four different types of soils in Malaysia, namely: shallow peat soil [Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Teluk Intan], deep peat soil (MPOB Sessang), mineral soil (MPOB Long Danau) and clay soil [Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) Sahabat]. The result from the study conducted in MPOB, Bangi showed that the total weevil life cycle and development period ranged from 1-14 days, whereby the eggs hatched in 0-1 day, formation of larva I was around 1-3 days, larva II around 2-10 days, larva III around 4-12 days, pupae around 6-14 days and adult weevil around 8-14 days, without any significant differences between the four populations in different soil types from different plantations. About 80 per cent of male and female weevils can live an average of 33 and 32 days, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in longevity between male and female adults. Meanwhile, the morphological size measured differed significantly among the life stages between the four weevil populations. Overall, there was a slight variation, however, there was no significant difference in the life cycle, development period and longevity between the four weevil populations in different types of soil from different plantations in Malaysia. Keywords: Life history, longevity, morphological size, soil types, agriculture.