Pollination of Cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) by the Mass-propagated Beetles Haptoncus ocularis, Mimemodes monstrosus, and Carpophilus marginellus

摘要

Insect pollination of cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) was evaluated using artificially propagated Haptoncus ocularis, Mimemodes monstrosus, and Carpophilus marginellus beetles, which are some of the main insect visitors to cherimoya grown on the Japanese mainland. Among these species, both H. ocularis and C. marginellus proved to be good pollinators leading to more seed formation and better fruit set. The harvested fruits obtained following the release of either of these two species were similar in size to hand-pollinated fruits, although the release of C. marginellus led to a better fruit set than the release of H. ocularis. The release of these species at about five individuals per flower, or possibly less for C. marginellus, under ideal cool and humid environmental conditions may be sufficient for the effective pollination of cherimoya.