INSECT POLLINATORS OF COCOA (Theobroma cacao L.) IN JATIMULYO, YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA

Syefrina Rosyada, Hari Purwanto

Abstract


Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is an important commercial crop species worldwide. Despite its global significance, the ecology and pollination services of cocoa flowers have received limited attention. Numerous studies have identified Ceratopogonidae flies as the primary pollinators of cocoa, yet the role of other insect species remains insufficiently explored. A comprehensive understanding of cocoa’s pollination system is essential to maximize pollination and optimize yield. This study aimed to determine potential insect pollinators associated with cocoa flowers and to investigate the role of stingless bees in cocoa flower pollination. Sampling was conducted at three locations in Jatimulyo, Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta Province, situated 0 m, 250 m, and 500 m from a meliponary to capture potential variation in pollinator activity. Insects were collected using sweep nets and aspirators, and pollination effectiveness was evaluated based on flower-visiting behavior, pollen load, and pollination dependence. To assess pollination contribution, nine cocoa trees were subjected to two treatments: one group of flower buds was bagged (exclusion treatment) and another group remained open to allow insect visitation (open treatment). The results identified four insect species as potential pollinators, namely Forcipomyia parvula (43% cocoa pollen load), Tetragonula laeviceps (62%), Dasyhelea sylvatica (25%), and Dasyhelea pseudoincisurata (28%). Among them, Tetragonula laeviceps exhibited consistent flower visitation, with the highest rate occurring between 07:00–08:00 and the longest average duration observed between 09:00–10:30, reaching 31.2 seconds per flower. The open-pollination treatment showed a 36.7% increase in fruit formation, indicating a strong dependence of cocoa fruit set on insect visitation. This percentage exceeds values reported in earlier studies that did not include the stingless bee Tetragonula laeviceps. The findings reveal the significant yet previously underappreciated role of stingless bees in cocoa pollination and emphasize their importance for sustainable yield management.


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