Resumen

LABARCA, M.V; PORTILLO, E  y  NARVAEZ, Z. "Relationship between inflorescences, climate and the pollinating in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacquin) plantations located in south lake of Maracaibo, Zulia state". Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2007, vol.24, n.2, pp.303-320. ISSN 0378-7818.

The high productivity of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacquin), is the result of a permanent production of bunches, which mostly depends on pollinating insects. The population fluctuation of the different pollinator species were studied, with the aim of knowing the situation on this specific area of the country as well as their relation to the presence of male and female inflorescences in the field. Therefore, a survey was carried out from December 2002 to November 2003, on a 3-year-old oil palm plantation, located at Francisco Javier Pulgar municipality, Zulia state. Samples were taken from male inflorescences in anthesis (MIA) and traps were placed in the female inflorescences in anthesis (FIA) available in the field, to capture the insects; which were separated, identified per species and counted. The main species found were Elaeidobius kamerunicus, E. subvittatus and Mistrops costaricensis. It was also observed the presence of trips and one coleoptera Smicripidae. The number of male and female inflorescences in the marked plant was registered according to its category. It was observed a significant correlation between MIA and the pollinating insects captured, except for T. hawaiiensis specie, whereas the correlation with FIA was only significative for the E. subviattatus specie. Besides, the rainfall and mean temperature of region was registered to observing its effect on the availability of MIA and FIA by concluding that variations on month rainfall caused fluctuations on inflorescence number.

Palabras clave : oil palm; pollinating insects; inflorescences; climate.