Elaeidobius kamerunicus weevil (Male) is a pollination weevil of oil palm

In West Africa and South America, pollination of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is essentially entomophilous (Syed, 1979). Twenty species of insects are attracted to the flowers of oil palm (Mariau et al., 1991). They belong to Elaeidobius genus. They do not have all the same pollinating power. Four species were distinguished: E. kamerunicus, E. plagiatus, E. subvittatus and E. singularis.

They provide the largest share of pollination, the first two mentioned species are most active (Mariau, 1991). Their populations vary in a very important way in space and time under the influence of climatic factors. These changes have resulted in fluctuations in the average weight of bunch and hence production.

Adult weevils of the African oil palm weevil Elaeidobius kamerunicus are very host-specific to the oil palm, Elaeis guineensis.

The adults of E. kamerunicus lay their eggs in the male inflorescences of the oil palm, where the developing larvae find shelter and food (Syed 1978).