PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA — Researchers from the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Center (IOPRI/PPKS) have released the latest findings on the behavior of oil palm pollinator insects recently introduced from Tanzania. The three species—Elaeisdobius subvittatus, Elaeisdobius plagiatus, and Elaeisdobius kamerunicus—are being studied to better understand the biological factors influencing oil palm productivity in Indonesia.
During a presentation at the Karantina Day 2025 Talkshow, themed “From Quarantine to Sustainable Palm Oil: Supporting Indonesia’s Food and Energy Security” on Friday (October 24, 2025), researcher Agus Eko Prasetyo explained that IOPRI continues to conduct compatibility and behavioral tests in the laboratory to examine how these pollinator species interact with oil palm and other palm flowers.
“We are continuously testing the compatibility between these insects and oil palm flowers. It’s not simple—each species responds differently to the chemical compounds emitted by the plant,” Agus explained.
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He noted that most oil palm pollinators are attracted not by nectar but by specific scents and volatile compounds released by the flowers at certain stages of blooming. These scents play a key role in attracting pollinators to both male and female inflorescences.
“Interestingly, we found that insects are more attracted to female flowers than male ones. Based on our observations, the insect presence ratio is roughly 1:2 for male flowers and 1:4 for female flowers,” he revealed.
Agus added that this tendency opens new opportunities for research on how pollinator behavior impacts pollination effectiveness and fruit formation in oil palm. Moreover, the findings provide insights into how natural pollinator ecosystems could be managed to improve plantation productivity.
“There appears to be a correlation between the nutritional content of female flowers and the life cycle of pollinating insects. This is an exciting area for further research since it could affect how quickly pollinator populations regenerate,” he added.
The ongoing study also includes comparative trials involving other palm species, showing that oil palm flowers have a distinct attraction for natural pollinators—an important factor in maintaining high productivity levels.
Agus emphasized that continuous research on oil palm pollination biology will help strengthen Indonesia’s palm oil industry by improving production efficiency and promoting a science-based sustainable agriculture system. (P2)
