The effectiveness of biological products and insecticides in controlling the infestation of

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) is an economically important crop in South-east Asia, especially in Malaysia and Indonesia. In Malaysia, oil palm is the most profitable commodity in the agriculture sector. The future of oil palm lies in obtaining a higher yield that is aligned and directed towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. Elaeidobius kamerunicus was introduced into Malaysia during the late 1980s to boost the production of oil palm fruit bunches. Almost 40 years since the introduction of E. kamerunicus, significant improvements have been witnessed in the increase of oil palm yield. Nevertheless, the current concern in the oil palm sector is regarding the decreasing of fruit set that may be affected by E. kamerunicus. The weevil population plays a crucial factor in the pollination of oil palm. Several factors had been reported to reduce the weevil population such as natural enemies, interaction with local insects, pesticides, climate and male inflorescence. These factors have been addressed in this article based on various studies conducted since the first investigation in Cameroon by Syed in 1977. The role of the pollinator in terms of its biology, behaviour and pollination mechanism is also described in this article, together with the population management of the weevils. This review article will provide a summary of the current state of Elaeidobius kamerunicus in Malaysia and other neighbouring oil palm-producing countries.

The oil palm male inflorescences provide food source and breeding sites for the pollinating weevil, Elaeidobius kamerunicus (E. kamerunicus). The present study examined the difference in the formation of the oil palm male inflorescences on different soil types, and how the differences affect the population density of E. kamerunicus. Samplings of adult E. kamerunicus and the spikelets of fully-anthesising oil palm male inflorescences were conducted monthly for a period of 18 months at four oil palm plantations on peat and mineral soils in East Malaysia. E. kamerunicus population density in peat soil areas was found to be lower than those in mineral soils (P<0.05). It was also found that the male inflorescences spikelet length in the study sites on peat soil areas were less uniform; spikelets on the upper part of the inflorescence were significantly shorter (= 12.80 cm

The oil palm bunch moth, Tirathaba mundella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a pest of oil palm especially those planted on peat soil. The pest has a short life cycle, approximately 30 days (eggs four days, larvae 16 days and pupae 10 days) and therefore, its population build up rapidly and causing severe damage to the oil palm when proper control is not in place. A research was conducted to determine the efficiency of different design of the light traps in capturing the adult bunch moths and also, aimed to observe the moths' behaviour in terms of the night flight pattern in the areas with high level of infestation. The study was carried out in two oil palm